DouglasTHill

**^{You couldn’t draw up a better way to play outfield defense than this fella.}**

The list of Major League Baseball outfielders who won 10 or more consecutive Gold Gloves is not a long one:

Roberto Clemente 12 straight (1961-72)
Willie Mays 12 straight (1957-68)
Ken Griffey Jr. 10 straight (1990-99)
Al Kaline 10 straight (1957-67)
Ichiro Suzuki 10 straight (2001-10)

There is, of course, one more, and he’s the answer to this week’s #FanTeaser: Andruw Jones (1998-2007).

And, later today, Jones will join the other five with a plaque hanging at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Jones will be joined at the Induction Ceremony by Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent.

Unlike the other seven players mentioned, Jones has a unique distinction. He will be the first Curaçao-born player enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

^{Longtime Atlanta Brave, Andruw Jones will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today in Cooperstown, NY. He will become the first-ever Curaçao-born player so enshrined. (Photo from Atlanta Braves)}

^{Andruw Jones flashes some serious leather in this compilation.}

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

TSFP’s Christmas in July Giveaway – Day 6

July 25, 2026July 18, 2026DouglasTHill

The Fan Teaser – Week 196

July 24, 2026July 21, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

TSFP’s Christmas in July Giveaway – Day 5

July 24, 2026July 18, 2026DouglasTHill

TSFP’s Christmas in July Giveaway Drawings – Days 1-3

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026DouglasTHill1 Comment

Conversations with Sports Fans – Jeff Kutschman

July 23, 2026July 23, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

Adams High School — **^{The 2023 Rochester Adams Girls Golf Team won the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s Division I State Championship.}**
**^{Coach Jeff Kutschman is at left. (Photo from the MHSAA)}**

Nearly 30 years ago, I left behind a career as a sports journalist in pursuit of my teaching degree.

One of the many inspirations for that decision was a man named Joe Clinton.

Joe was not only an English teacher at Troy Athens (MI) High School, but he was also a coach.

And when I say coach, I mean he coached.

A true man for all seasons, Joe coached girls’ varsity basketball, middle school basketball, boys’ junior varsity golf, and track and field. I’m pretty sure he also took a turn at football coaching at various times (he played collegiately, after all, and 60 years later he still owns Eastern Michigan University’s career interceptions record with 20), and I’m fairly certain his longtime friend and colleague, Tim Storch, had him helping as a soccer coach from time to time.

I write all of that not because my guest on this episode of Conversations with Sports Fans is Joe Clinton.

I wish!

We, sadly, lost Joe over 20 years ago now:-(

I write this because, as I spoke with Conversations’ guest Jeff Kutschman, I began to realize similar characteristics between him and Joe. They both loved working with the student-athletes, and they both have some unconventional ways in which they go about building a rapport with their athletes and, subsequently, getting the most out of them. You’ll learn about Jeff’s approach during our time together. As for Joe, I’ll just say, I’m fairly certain there aren’t too many varsity coaches scheduling pre-game team dinners with that night’s opponent and its coaching staff three hours before tip-off.

I trust you’ll enjoy learning about Jeff’s life as a sports fan, educator, and coach, including how he went from walking around the Detroit Zoo to accepting a golf coaching job that, ultimately, led him to Michigan Coach of the Year honors as well as a pair of state championships.

^{My Conversation with Jeff Kutschman.}

TSFP’s Christmas in July Giveaway – Day 4

July 23, 2026July 18, 2026DouglasTHill

Hello, Rejection, My Old Friend

July 22, 2026July 22, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{After breaking the cycle of 12 consecutive rejections a year ago, I’m back on the “Unfortunately, your entry was not selected…” train again. Sigh:-(}**

I can still remember the euphoria I felt a year ago when, for the first time in a dozen years, I did not receive the message from Augusta National Golf Club that I received earlier this week.

I’ll keep tilting at this windmill until I’m unable to do so.

In the meantime, I’m even more convinced a certain someone had her hand in last year’s selection process to allow me and my dad to make it onto the course this past April.