Roster Moves 6/30/08

From the Senators Press Release:

Roster Moves: C Luke Montz and INF Ofilio Castro transferred to Columbus(AAA),
INF Andrew LeFave transferred to Potomac (A); OF Edgardo Baez, INFsBill
Rhinehart (pictured above) and Leonard Davis added from Potomac; C Javi Herrera addedfrom
Columbus.

Congrats to Luke and Ofilio as there promotion are much deserved.

LeFave is a good player but he went from Low A to Double A in one season. He struggled at times but has shown promise.

Rhinehart’s promotion is truly overdue. He played 65 games at Hagerstown batting .295, 9 homeruns and 56 RBI’s. He was then promoted to Potomac for 7 games. There he hit 2 homeruns while batting .320. Senators fans should enjoy watching him play the rest of this season.

Leonard Davis will most likely start at 3rd base. He played the entire season at Potomac batting .335, 14 homeruns, 37 RBI’s and 47 runs scored

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Bernadina Promoted to Washington

Press Release from the Washington Nationals:

"The Washington Nationals placed center fielder Lastings Milledge on the 15-Day disabled list tonight with a right groin injury. They recalled outfielder Roger Bernadina from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.
Bernadina, a 24 year-old center fielder, entered play tonight batting .325 (86-for-265) with 11 doubles, seven triples, five home runs, 38 RBI and an Eastern League-leading 26 stolen bases in 72 contests. When leading off an inning for Harrisburg, Bernadina posted a .404 (23-for-57) batting average with four home runs, six walks and a .440 on-base percentage. His .397 on-base percentage to date represents a career high, and he ranked 7th in the Eastern League in batting average.
Thanks in large part to a career stolen-base percentage of 77.4, Bernadina averaged nearly 32 stolen bases a year in his first six professional seasons. On multiple occasions, including this season, the left-handed hitting and throwing Bernadina has been rated as the Fastest Baserunner and Best Defensive Outfielder in Washington's system by industry insider Baseball America.
Milledge, 23, was hitting .245 (74-for-302) with 16 doubles, seven home runs, 31 RBI and a team-best 13 stolen bases at the time of the injury, which occurred in the third inning tonight while tracking down an Alex Cintron triple to left-center field."

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“I Gave It My Best Shot” by Willie Fordham

Book Review
“I Gave it My Best Shot” by Willie Fordham

Treasuring family and friends, over coming adversity, striving to be the best he could be, making the most out of the abilities God gave him, and playing baseball at the highest level; these are all ways to describe "I Gave It My Best Shot" by Willie Fordham.

Willie’s childhood was filled with good times; baseball, fishing, swimming, car rides, and his grandmother’s sugar and lard sandwiches (yeah, you read that correctly)…. During his childhood racism ran ramped but it wasn’t overwhelmingly evident to him, even though his family was only one of two colored families in a rural Pennsylvania town. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t experience racism. Two incidents are prominent in the book. When he was young there was a cross burning in his family’s front yard and later not being served at a restaurant after he pitched a no-hitter in high school. Over coming incidents like these, while traumatic and troubling, helped build his character and make him the person he is today.

From his younger days of throwing a ball through a tire, to coaching a Pee-Wee team to a championship in Canada, playing in the Negro Leagues, and his tryout with the Dodgers; baseball has always been a large part of Willie’s life. By all accounts he was a good pitcher. He had the tools to make it in the Major Leagues and almost did but his color held him back. That did not stop his love of baseball. When he returned home he played for the Eastern League Harrisburg Senators (1952) and the Negro League Harrisburg Giants (1953-1955). Baseball is a sport that once it’s ‘in’ you it’s there for life. He clearly conveys his love, passion, and respect for the game of baseball.

Life outside of baseball for Fordham has been rewarding. He and his wife raised a family; he worked for the Navy Depot for 30-years, owned a T.V repair shop for 16-years, and worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He continues to play an active role in the community by giving motivational speeches and participating in Negro League Remembrance activities. While reading his book you get a true sense of how much he cherishes the relationships with his family, friends and people he met throughout his life. This becomes even more evident as he dedicated the final pages to writing something about his family and friends.

Fordham’s book is a great read for teenagers and adults alike. It’s an inspiring story that reminds everyone that you can make a difference; if you give it your best shot. Fordham’s story has changed the way I look at life and I’m sure it will do the same for you.

Be sure to attend the Harrisburg Senators game on June 30, 2008 and meet local legend Willie Fordham, as well as other members of the Harrisburg Giants. Willie will be at Commerce Bank Park to participate in Negro League Remembrance Night. He will have his book for sale; autographed copies will be available too.

If you are unable to attend the game you can purchase an autographed copy of his book directly from him by sending $20 to the following address:

Willie Fordham
3608 Tudor Dr
Harrisburg, PA 17109
Book will be shipped next business day.

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Mike Schmidt Photos Coming Soon!!!

Mike Schmidt Appearance in Reading on 6/25

As some of you know I traveled to Reading on Wednesday to photograph the Mike Schmidt event. It was a lot of fun but it was also a lot of work.

I plan to post a brief write up/summary of Schmidt’s visit to Reading, the post will mostly be photos. I still need to resize the photos and ‘tag’ them before I can post them. I’m guessing it will be posted later this weekend or early next week.

First thing I need to do is keep my promise and post the Willie Fordham article and book review.

Will

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Delay/Change In Posting Willie Fordham Article

Unfortunately there has been a delay in posting the Willie Fordham article and book review. I still intend to have everything posted by Monday but I don’t foresee it being posted today. There has also been a little change in the order they will be posted. The book review will now be posted first followed by the article.

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Negro League History Timeline

1884 - Moses "Fleetwood" Walker becomes first African-American player in major league baseball, signing with the Toledo club in the American Association. Walker, a star catcher at Oberlin College, despite a creditable performance with Toledo, was cut from the squad after the season, but continued to play in organized baseball with minor league teams. Several African-American players were active on the rosters of white minor league teams during the period.


1885 - The first all-black professional team, the Cuban Giants, is founded in Babylon, New York.


1887 - The National Colored Base Ball League, the first attempt at a professional Negro League, is formed. The league includes Lord Baltimores (Baltimore), Resolutes (Boston), Browns (Cincinnati), Falls City (Louisville), Gorhams (New York), Pythians (Philadelphia), Pittsburgh Keystones, Capital City Club (Washington).


Two weeks later the league will fail from lack of attendance.


1890 - The International League implements a ban on African-American players. The league's ban will continue until 1946.


1895 - "Bud" Fowler forms the Page Fence Giants club, one of black baseball's early powerhouse teams. Based in Adrian, Michigan the club tours the Midwest and East in their own railroad car taking on all comers, including major league clubs like the Cincinnati Reds.


1896 - In the famous Plessy vs. Furgeson case the United States Supreme Court upholds Louisianna's law requiring "separate but equal" public facilities for blacks. The decision firmly establishes the docrine of racial segregation throughout the South and much of the nation.


1896 - The Page Fence Giants and Cuban Giants, the undisputed champions of black baseball in the East, play an historic series of games billed as a "national championship" series. The Page Fence fence club prevails, winning 10 of 15 games.


1920 - Andrew "Rube" Foster, renowned pitcher and owner of the Chicago American Giants, calls Midwestern team owners to Kansas City. The result of the meeting is the formation of the Negro National League. The League begins the 1920 season on May 2 with the following teams onboard: Chicago American Giants, Chicago Giants, Dayton Marcos, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis ABCs, Kansas City Monarchs and Cuban Stars.


1920 - The Negro Southern League begins play in the South. League cities include Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, New Orleans and Chattanooga. Nashville Elite Giants owner, Thomas Wilson (shown at right), serves as league president.


1923 - Ed Bolden (owner of the Hilldale Club) and Nat Strong (Brooklyn Royal Giants owner) organize the Eastern Colored League. The six-team league begins its inaugural season with the Brooklyn Royal Giants, Hilldale Club, Bacharach Giants, Lincoln Giants, Baltimore Black Sox and Cuban Stars (East).


1924 - The first Negro World Series is played between the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro National League Champions) and the Hilldale Club (Eastern Colored League Champions).
Kansas City wins the series championship 5 games to 4.

1928 - The Eastern Colored League disbands midseason.

1928- The American Negro League is formed in the East and begins its inaugural (and only) season with the Baltimore Black Sox, Lincoln Giants, Homestead Grays, Hilldale Cub, Bacharach Giants, and Cuban Stars (East).

1929 - The stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression places financial pressure on all of America, including Negro League baseball.

1930 - Negro National League founder Rube Foster dies after an extended hospitalization.
The Kansas City Monarchs, among the more successful and prestigious clubs in black baseball, withdraws from the Negro National League and returns to independent play.

1931 - The Negro National League plays its final season before succumbing to financial pressures.

1932 - The Negro Southern League is the only "major" black league in operation. The league begins its seasons with only five teams — Chicago American Giants, Cleveland Cubs, Detroit Stars, Indianapolis ABCs amd Louisville White Sox.

In the East a failed effort was made to reestablish an organized league. The East-West league, which included the Baltimore Black Sox, Cleveland Stars, Cuban Stars, Hilldales, Homestead Grays and Newark Browns, failed to complete the season. The league disbanded in June.

1933 - A new Negro National League is formed. Organized by Pittsburgh bar owner, Gus Greenlee, the league launches its inaugural season with seven teams — Cole's American Giants, Monroe Monarchs, Nashville Elite Giants, Montgomery Grey Sox, Louisville Black Caps and Indianapolis ABCs. The first East-West Colored All-Star Game is played at Chicago's Comiskey Park before 20,000+ fans. The West defeated the East 11-7.


1937 - The Negro American League is formed. The new league brings together the best western and southern teams. The NAL begins its inaugural season with seven teams — Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, Cincinnati Tigers, Memphis Red Rox, Detroit Stars, Birmingham Black Barons, Indianapolis Athletics and St. Louis Stars. The Homestead Grays begins its 9-year reign as the champions of the Negro National League with the power-hitting tandem of Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard.


1946 - Jackie Robinson is signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and debuts with the Montreal Royals as the first black player in organized baseball in half a century.
Legendary homerun king Josh Gibson dies at the age of 35.

1947 - Jackie Robinson joins the Brooklyn Dodgers and becomes the first black player in major league baseball during the modern era. Robinson wins the National League Rookie Of The Year award as he solidifies his position in a pennant winning Dodger lineup. Larry Doby is signed by the Cleveland Indians and becomes the first black player in the American League.

1948- Satchel Paige is signed by the Cleveland Indians and becomes baseball's all-time oldest "rookie" at the age of 42. The Negro National League plays its final season, disbanding at the end of the year.

1949 - The Negro American League becomes the only "major" Negro League circuit still in operation.

1952 - By the end of the season more than 150 former Negro League players have been integrated into organized baseball. Without its greatest stars, and struggling with low attendance, the great era of Negro League baseball comes to a close.


This time line was originally posted on Negro League Baseball .

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Negro League Q&A

Question: Who was the first African-American player to play with a major league team?
Answer:
Most people believe that Jackie Robinson was the first player to appear on the roster of a major league team. While Robinson was the player who broke the major leagues' color barrier in 1947, a few African-American players had played on major league teams during the late 1800's before black players were banned from participation.Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first Negro major-leaguer in 1884 as a catcher with the Toledo club in the American Association, one of the two major leagues at that time. Later that year his younger brother, Weldy Walker, also played briefly with the Toledo club.

Question: Did Negro League teams ever play against major league teams?
Answer:
From the 1920s through the 1940s exhibition games between Negro League stars and major league stars were both common and very popular with fans. Typically, such games were played between squads of "all-stars" from both leagues. The most famous series of exhibition games was played in 1946 between a Negro League all-star squad organized by Satchel Paige and a squad of major league all-stars assembled by famed Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller.Throughout the years games between Negro League squads and major leaguers were fairly evenly split, demonstrating the relatively equal levels of competition that existed in the separate leagues.

Question: When did the Negro Leagues come to an end?
Answer:
The Negro National League disbanded after the 1949 season. Although the Negro American League continued to operate throughout the 1950s, the quality of play in that league diminished steadily as black baseball's best talent was siphoned off by the major and minor leagues.While it is true that the Negro American League fielded teams throughout the 1950s, most baseball hsitorians mark the end of Negro League baseball at 1950 or 1951, reasoning that the league did not offer true major league quality baseball after that time.

Question: When was the first Negro World Series played?
Answer:
The first Negro World Series was played in 1924 between the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro National League champions) and the Hilldale Club (champions of the Eastern Colored League). The Kansas City Monarchs won the championship series 5 games to 4.In order to maximize attendance, the 9-game series was played in several cities including Philadelphia (games 1 & 2), Baltimore (games 3 & 4), Kansas City (games 5, 6 & 7) and Chicago (games 8, 9 & 10). Although the series consisted of 9 games, 10 games were actually played. Game 3 at Baltimore ended in a 6-6 tie when it was called for darkness after 13 innings of play.

Question: Did Josh Gibson really hit 84 homeruns in a single season?
Answer:
The best currently available compilation of statistics shows that Gibson did, in fact, hit 84 homeruns during the 1936 season. However, it is important to realize that only a percentage of these homers came in games against top Negro League competition.The official league season for most Negro League teams was limited to 40 to 60 games during most years. The remainder of the games a Negro League team would play (up to an additional 150 games) were games against much weaker competition, including semi-professional teams.There is no question that Josh Gibson was a prodigious hitter and one of baseball's best all-time homerun sluggers, but the nature of the Negro League season and quality of existing statistics do not allow for direct comparison to the established records of major league baseball.

Question: Did Hank Aaron really play in the Negro Leagues?
Answer:
Hank Aaron began his professional baseball career as a shortstop with the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952. During his brief stay with the Clowns the young Aaron earned the nickname "Pork Chop" because of his particular liking for that entre.Although Aaron's speed, fielding ability and natural hitting ability quickly brought him to the attention of the Milwaukee Braves, he showed little of his homerun power while with the Clowns. In fact, when he first joined the Clowns he swung the bat with a cross-handed grip...an eccentricity that was quickly corrected by the Clowns' manager.

Question: Which major league stars began their careers in the Negro Leagues?
Answer:
Many Negro League players began their careers with Negro League teams. The following is a list of some of the most notable players (many of them Hall-Of-Famers) and the Negro League teams with which they were associated:Hank Aaron (Indianapolis Clowns)Willie Mays (Birmingham Black Barons)Jackie Robinson (Kansas City Monarchs)Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles)Larry Doby (Newark Eagles)Roy Campanella (Baltimore Elite Giants)Sam Jethroe (Cleveland Buckeyes)Orestes "Minnie" Minoso (New York Cubans)Leroy "Satchel" Paige (Kansas City Monarchs and many others)Joe Black (Baltimore Elite Giants)

Question: Is there a separate Hall of Fame for Negro League players?
Answer:
No, there is no separate Hall of Fame for former Negro League players. Just like the great stars of major league baseball, the greatest players of Negro League baseball are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY.Several African-American players, such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson and Monte Irvin, have been inducted into the Hall Of Fame on the basis of their outstanding major league careers, even though their careers began in the Negro Leagues. The 18 players listed below have earned induction into the Hall Of Fame largely on the basis of their play in the Negro Leagues:Satchel Paige (1971)Josh Gibson (1972)Buck Leonard (1972)Monte Irvin (1973)Cool Papa Bell (1974)Judy Johnson (1975)Oscar Charleston (1976)John Henry Lloyd (1977)Martin Dihigo (1977)Rube Foster (1981)Ray Dandridge (1987)Leon Day (1995)Willie Foster (1996)Willie Wells (1997)Bullet Rogan (1998)Smokey Joe Williams (1999)Turkey Stearnes (2000)Hilton Smith (2001)

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Harrisburg’s Negro League Legacy Remembered

Willie Fordham gave me an outline entitled: Harrisburg’s Negro League Legacy Remembered. I am not sure who originally composed the outline but it contains a lot of interesting facts. Here it is:

'Harrisburg’s Negro League Legacy Remembered'

1867 – T. Morris Chester’s Monrovian Club sponsors and amateur baseball team which loses on October 22nd by a score of 59-27 to the Pythian Club of Philadelphia. Two months later the National Association of Base-Ball Players officially bans the Pythain Club from the organization and thus begins an 80-year period of segregated baseball.

1883 – Harrisburg’s Jack Frye becomes the 2nd African-American to play in organized baseball when he debuts with the Reading Actives.

1887 – Both Jack Frye and Harrisburg’s Clarence Williams play on the Black baseball’s first professional team, the Cuban Giants.

1890 – African-American entrepreneur Colonel William c. Strothers founds the Harrisburg Giants.

1890 – The greatest Black player of the 19th century, Frank Grant, plays second base for the Harrisburg Ponies, which today are known as the Harrisburg Senators.

1903 – Hall of Famer Rube Foster pitches the Cuban X-Giants to the colored World Title by beating the Philadelphia Giants 12-3 in Game Six of the World Series at Island Park on September 18th.

1903 – Harrisburg’s Clarence Williams catchers Danny McClellan as he pitches the first Perfect Game in the history of Black baseball versus York’s Penn Park team.

1906 – The great Spottswood Poles, known as the ‘Black Ty’, begins his professional career with the Harrisburg Colored Giants.

1916 – Steelton’s own Rap Dixon begins playing for the Keystone Giants, later joining the big boys on the Harrisburg Giants in 1922.

1927 – Rap Dixon, on leave from the Giants, tours Japan with an All-Star team. Dixon’s hitting prowess is so pronounced (and noticed) that Emperor Hirohito presents him with a trophy.

1932 – Colonel William C. Strothers dies and an era ends but the tradition continues.

1952 – Hank Aaron is signed to his first professional contract by Indianapolis Clowns General Manager Bunny Downs who played second base for the Harrisburg Giants in 1925.

1952 – Poles, Dixon, Charleston, Downs, Fats Jenkins and John Beckwith; all former Harrisburg Giants were named to the All-Time Negro League team by a panel of experts assembled by the Pittsburgh Courier.

1953 – Playing under a name steeped in tradition, Rich Felton’s Harrisburg Giants led by Captain and league Most Valuable Player, Tom Hailey, capture the Eastern Negro league title. The team featured Hailey, Willie Fordham, Russ Royster, Bobby Pae, Jim Weedon, Ken Freeland, Zeke Jones, Eddie Nork, Syke Burnette, G.G. Burton, Bruno DiMartile, Peter Dickey, Vince Hoch, Reid Poles, Danny Werner, Ellwood Harrell, Ben Banks, Thea Dillon, Minner Williams and other greats.

1998 – Mayor Reed, the City of Harrisburg, the Harrisburg Senators and the Harrisburg Negro League Commemorative Committee led by Calobe Jackson, Jr. begin an annual tradition of honoring Harrisburg’s great Black Baseball past each year at a special Harrisburg Senators game.

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Harrisburg Giants

Since the Harrisburg Senators primary focus on June 30th will be to honor the living members of the Negro League Harrisburg Giants (and the Harrisburg Giants in general), I wanted to give you a link to Harrisburg’s Blackball History. The article is well written by Ted Knorr and Calobe Jackson, Harrisburg’s foremost authorities on Negro League Baseball.

Harrisburg Blackball History by Ted Knorr & Calobe Jackson


Make sure you visit Ted’s blog on the Harrisburg Giants. He has a wealth of Negro League baseball knowledge and is a great resource for everything Harrisburg Giants.

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Clarence "Fats" Jenkins

(Image courtesy National Baseball Hall of Fame)

In a previous post Senators GM Randy Whitaker noted that Ted Knorr will be speaking on Negro League star Clarence "Fats" Jenkins. Jenkins played for the Harrisburg Giants from 1923-1927 where he was the right fielder and lead-off hitter. From 1924-1927 he posted batting averages of .317, .315, .283, and .398.

Jenkins played professional baseball from 1920-1940, he was 42 years old when he ‘retired’ from baseball. He finished his playing career with a .334 lifetime batting average. He was an excellent lead-off hitter, with well above average speed and he perfected the art of stealing bases.

He passed away in 1968 at the age of 70 in Philadelphia.

Here are a few links to information about Jenkins in case you are interested in learning more about him.

Negro League Baseball Players Associations Player Profile

“Fats” Jenkins Bio

Negro League Baseball Museum Player Profile

MLB.com Jenkins a two-sport standout

MLB.com Negro Leagues Legacy, The Stars: A Continuing Series: Clarence “Fats” Jenkins



Most of you know that I usually do not post images by other photographers but I’ve made a exception in regards to Mr. Jenkins. The image is courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame, I copied it from MLB.com. Some of my write up contains parts of the stories from the various links listed above.

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Negro League Baseball Websites

Below is a list of Negro League baseball websites. All of the sites are well worth visiting if you are interested in learning more about the history of the Negro Leagues. A few of the sites have memorabilia and other items for sale.

MLB Negro Leagues Legacy

Negro League Baseball

Black Baseball

Negro League Baseball Museum

Negro League Baseball Players Association – “The Most Informative Negro League Baseball site”

Negro League Store

Negro League Legends

Center for Negro League Baseball Research (CNLBR)

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Negro League Commemorative Night, June 30th

The 12th annual Negro League Commemorative Night will be held at Commerce Bank Park on June 30, 2008. The Harrisburg Senators will host the Bowie Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.

Senators GM Randy Whitaker had these comments regarding Negro League Night:

“The night is coming together very well. We anticipate the Mayor to be on hand to participate. We'll recognize and honor the Negro Leagues - particularly the Harrisburg Giants. The surviving members of the team will be on hand to be introduced. They are:

Tom Hailey, Leo "Syke" Burnette, Ezell "Zeke" Jones, Ed "G.G." Burton, Bruno DiMartile, Jim Weedon, Wilbur "Willie" Fordham, Peter "Tomato" Dickey, Eddie Nork, Danny Werner, Elwood Harrell, Bobby Pae

There will also be a short recognition of Negro League star Clarence "Fats" Jenkins by noted Negro League scholar Ted Knorr.

Former Harrisburg Giant Danny Werner will throw out the first pitch.

The Senators will wear Negro League uniforms for the game.”

Here at Senators Fans Unite, I plan to commemorate Negro League players starting June 23 thru June 30. Over the course of 8-days I plan to post a variety of Negro League information including facts, trivia, photos and links to web sites.

On Friday, June 27 I plan to post a very special article on Negro League player, author and local legend Willie Fordham. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to interview Willie a few months ago. He talked about his life, overcoming adversity, experiences, and his love of baseball.

In keeping with the Willie Fordham theme, I also plan to write a review of his book, “I Gave it my Best Shot.” Which I hope to have post prior to June 30th.

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Photos Added: Stammen & Spradlin

I just uploaded photos of Jack Spradlin and Craig Stammen to my Flickr slideshow (Senatorsfansunite). Both photos were taken on 6/22/08 vs. Erie.

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Senators Win With Late Inning Rally

The Senators scored 6 in the bottom of the 8th inning to pull out a 9-6 victory over the Erie Seawolves ( Box Score ).

Pictured above is Marco Yepez scoring on a Garrett Guzman single to right field in the bottom of the 8th.

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Adrain Alaniz Photo

Adrain Alaniz photo has been added to the slideshow.

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Mike Schmidt Appearance Scheduled June 25th, Harrisburg @ Reading

As many of you know the final game of this homestand is Sunday vs Erie. After that the Senators travel to Reading for a 4 game series. I wanted to make Senators fans aware that former Reading Phillie, Philadelphia Phillie, 500 Homerun Club Member and Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt will be in attendance on Wednesday, June 25. Schmidt will be speaking about benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and encourage men to see their doctor.

From Talkaboutbph.com

BPH Game Plan Starts with U: Catch the Whole Game

Mike Schmidt, Hall of Fame third baseman and three-time Most Valuable Player from the Philadelphia Phillies, has teamed up with Minor League Baseball™ to launch the BPH Game Plan Starts with U: Catch the Whole Game, a national campaign to raise awareness of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and encourage men to see their doctor for an annual prostate screening exam.

BPH, commonly known as enlarged prostate, is a progressive but manageable condition in which the prostate becomes enlarged and/or the muscle of the prostate and bladder neck constrict causing frequent and urgent needs to urinate, the feeling that your bladder is full even after urinating and waking up several times during the night to urinate. For more information, please click here.

Mike Schmidt will be traveling to cities across the country to speak at Minor League Baseball games about his personal experience with BPH and UROXATRAL® (alfuzosin HCl 10 mg extended-release tablets) and to urge men to consult their physicians about their symptoms and develop their own game plan. To see if Mike will be coming to a city near you, please click here.

BPH is one of the most common health problems in older men, affecting more than eight million men in the U.S. About half of all men 50+ and as many as 90 percent of men 70+ are affected by symptoms of BPH. Although some of the symptoms of BPH and prostate cancer are the same, BPH is not cancer and does not increase the chance of getting prostate cancer.

If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of BPH, click here to take a
self-assessment test.

BPH Game Plan Starts with U is an awareness campaign that is supported by sanofi-aventis.

For More Information Please Visit:
https://www.talkaboutbph.com/default.aspx
http://www.readingphillies.com/

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Zinicola to Columbus

The Senators announced the following roster move today:

Roster move: RHP Zech Zinicola transferred to Columbus; RHP TristanCrawford activated from Disabled List.

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Burgess Wins Homerun Derby

Michael Burgess of the Hagerstown Suns (low-a affiliate of the Washington Nationals) displayed lighttower-power as he slugged a total 16 homeruns on the way to winning the South Atlantic League Homerun Derby.

Reports are that several of the homeruns easily cleared the 70-foot scoreboard in right-center field.

Burgess is currently 2nd in the SAL with 14 homeruns, Mike Stanton of the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins affiliate) is in 1st with 15.

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Rhinehart Dominates SAL All-Star Game

South Atlantic League All-Star Game was played last evening in Greensboro, NC. The North defeated the South 13-4 Box Score.

Representing the Nationals were outfielder - Michael Burgess, first baseman - Bill Rhinehart and catcher – Sean Rooney. As a group they combined to hit 4/7, homerun and 4 RBI’s.

Rhinehart shined the brightest amongst the All-Stars as he was 3/3, homerun, 3 RBI’s and a run scored; on his way to winning the ‘Star of Stars’ award (All-Star game MVP).

Burgess was 0/3 with a RBI.

Rooney was 1/1.

All 3-players are currently assigned to the Hagerstown Suns, Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Senators fans should expect to see them in Harrisburg within the next few years.

The Suns return to action tonight as they as they open the second half of the 2008 season at Delmarva.

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Photos Added to Slide Show / Flickr Page

As promised, I've added photos to the slide show (you can view them at Senators Fans Unite Flickr page ).

Photos have been added of: William Bergolla, Ian Desmond, Cory VanAllen, Seth Bynum, Mike Hinckley, and Manager John Stearns.

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Roster Moves: 6/13/2008

Per the Harrisburg Senators press release:

"Roster moves: RHP Luis Atilano transferred to Potomac; RHPs Adrian
Alaniz and Adam Carr added from Potomac."

I can understand the swap of Atilano for Alaniz. Alaniz has been 'lights out' at Potomac this season going 9-0 with a 2.62 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 12 starts. Atilano needs to spend some time at Potomac before getting a real shot at Harrisburg (maybe next season).

Moving Carr doesn't make sense (to me) at this point. He has been roughed up at Potomac this season. He has a 3-4 record, with only 5 saves in 21 games. His ERA has ballooned to 6.15 this season compared to only 1.78 last season. I can understand a player needing a push but I don't agree with this move at all. Carr’s season has been reminiscent of Zinicola’s sophomore jinx last season. Zinicola has rebounded nicely this season; wonder if that had anything to do with spending a full season at Potomac last year…..

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Ronnie Belliard (Rehab with Senators)

It's hard to believe that it's been 3-weeks since my last post. Sorry it's been so long but I've been dealing with some issues that has consumed a great amount of time. Hopefully those issues will be resolved in about a month or so. Meanwhile, I had a chance to see back-to-back games for the first time this season. The weather has not cooperated very much so far. In the next week or so I will be uploading more photos to the slide show and doing a post of other random photos. Hope everyone is doing well and still checking out my blog from time to time.

Ronnie Belliard's rehab stint with the Senators should be over today. If so he finishes his rehab 0/12 with 4 strike outs and a few fielding erros. Here are a few photos from today's game.... (97 degrees but felt much hotter)

#1


#2 -


#3 - Ronnie played 3rd base today.


#4 He made contact but couldn't manage to get a hit.


#5

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