DouglasTHill

**^{Not only is this fella in Cooperstown but also Omaha Beach.}**

As the United States celebrates its 250th Birthday this weekend, what better way to celebrate than with baseball (hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet … right!?!).

On the occasion of the nation’s semiquincentennial we thought it would be enjoyable to look at those baseballers who served in active military duty during major conflicts from the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The #FanTeaser image this week is of a youthful Lawrence Berra (later known as Yogi) who served in the U.S. Navy and was aboard the attack transport USS Bayfield as a gunner’s mate on June 6, 1944 (aka D-Day) and was at both Omaha and Utah Beaches. The Bayfield’s role was to fire artillery at German defense positions to clear the way for Allied infantry to arrive.

Berra, who was just turned 19-years-old the previous month, later went on to enjoy a 19-year Major League career with the New York Yankees and Mets that was deemed Baseball Hall of Fame worthy by the electorate.

In total, there were 72 current inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame who served during either the Civil War, World War I, World War II, or the Korean War. Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams served in both of the latter two and famously flew as a wingman to future astronaut and U.S. Senator, John Glenn.

One would have little difficulty building a few formidable starting nines out of those 72 men who served their country.

C – Yogi Berra
1B – Johnny Mize
2B – Jackie Robinson
3B – Billy Herman
SS – Pee Wee Reese
OF – Stan Musial
OF – Willie Mays
OF – Larry Doby
RHSP – Bob Feller
LHSP – Rube Marquard
Mgr – Casey Stengel

C – Mickey Cochrane
1B – Gil Hodges
2B – Charlie Gehringer
3B – Eddie Mathews
SS – Rabbit Maranville
OF – Duke Snider
OF – Ty Cobb
OF – Enos Slaughter
RHSP – Christy Mathewson
LHSP – Warren Spahn
Mgr – Whitey Herzog

C – Bill Dickey
1B – Hank Greenberg
2B – Eddie Collins
3B – Luke Appling
SS – Ernie Banks
OF – Oscar Charleston
OF – Joe DiMaggio
OF – Ted Williams
RHSP – Grover Alexander
LHSP – Eppa Rixley
Mgr – Red Schoendienst

We can also cobble together a pretty nice front office between General Manager Branch Rickey, Promotions Director Bill Veeck, and whatever it is that Warren Giles, Larry MacPhail, and Morgan Bulkeley (a Civil War veteran!) would like to do.

The broadcast team can be Ralph Kiner and Phil Rizzuto and we’ll go with a 2-man umpiring crew of Jocko Conlan and Al Barlick.

And, shoot, while we’re at it, the entire myth about the invention of baseball is built around someone with a long military history, Abner Doubleday.

Happy Birthday USA!!!

**^{A youthful looking Yogi Berra served in the U.S. Navy prior to going onto star for the New York Yankees.}**

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.

The Fan Teaser – Week 193

July 3, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

Conversations with Sports Fans – Jared Harman

July 2, 2026July 2, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

In this week’s episode, I head to the Pacific Northwest to visit with Vancouver, British Columbia, native, Jared Harman.

Co-Founder and CEO of The One Group Agency (a full-service marketing firm), Jared is a lifelong sports fan and it should come as no surprise that hockey is near the top of that list … he is Canadian, after all! One of his other favorites, however, might come as a bit of surprise. The San Francisco 49ers?

We learn how that came to be and what it was like to be in the arena in 1994 for the hometown Canucks’ Game 5 double-overtime Western Conference Finals victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent the Canucks to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1982.

Jared also shares his recollections of a decade spent operating the Langley Events Centre, a multi-sport and entertainment venue as well memories of some of the events he’s been fortunate enough to attend – and a few more he still hopes to get to!

My Conversation with Jared Harman.

Fan Teaser: Week 192 Solution

June 28, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

We went multiple choice for you this week in recognition of the recently completed NBA Draft. Your mission, should you accept it, was to pair the following NBA Draftees with their Draft Night Ensemble.

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Here’s who wore what:

^{Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the 11th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers for Miles Bridges and draft capital. SGA, as he’s known, wore this floral suit by Los Angeles designer Jhoanna Alba.}

^{Bol Bol, the son of the late Manute Bol, was the 44th overall selection of the Miami Heat during the 2019 NBA Draft but was later traded to Denver Nuggets for future draft capital and cash considerations. Here he’s wearing a suit from hip-hop artist Young Thug‘s brand, Spider.}

^{LeBron James was the first-overall selection by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA Draft. Just 18-years-old on Draft Night, he chose all-white, slightly oversized fit that has been credited to Elevee Lifestyle stylist, Sami Jenks.}

^{Jalen Rose was the 13th selection by the Denver Nuggets in the 1995 NBA Draft. Rose’s look was created by fellow Detroiter Ed Lews who owned Custom Clothing by Ed Lewis. The red was Rose’s nod to the Los Angeles Clippers whom he believed were going to draft him. Alas, the best-laid plans.}

The Fan Teaser – Week 192

June 26, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHill2 Comments

In recognition of the annual NBA Draft which occurred earlier this week, we’re having a little fun at the #FanTeaser. While the draftees talent on the basketball court is undeniable, sometimes the choice of attire requires some plausible deniability:-)

With that, below are four Draft Night Ensembles from the archives. Let’s see if you can sleuth out who wore each. To make your job that much easier, we’re giving you the names of the four players. All you have to do match them to the correct cropped image below.

Your choices are as follows:

LeBron James
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Jalen Rose
Bol Bol

Conversations with Sports Fans – Mark Griffiths

June 25, 2026June 25, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

**^{Mark Griffiths in the broadcast booth at AFC Wrexham.}**

I readily admit to my European soccer naivete.

The Apple TV+ series “Ted Lasso” might have been the gateway to getting me curious about the sport in the United Kingdom, but it was FX’s “Welcome to Wrexham” that provided a compelling real-life story about a moribund northern Wales club – Wrexham AFC – that benefits greatly from the North American star power of its actor/club owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds. It was “Welcome” that, well, welcomed me into the greater world of professional soccer in the UK.

Today marks the end of Season 5 for “Welcome” and one consistent voice throughout the series’ history has been the Red Dragons’ broadcaster, Mark Griffiths.

In Mark I found a kindred spirit of sorts. A school teacher by day, the soccer match broadcasting was a volunteer side gig for him. The feature-ette “Welcome” did on Mark during Season 3 caught my eye.

^{Mark Griffiths received the Hollywood treatment by “Welcome to Wrexham” during Season 3.}

I filed this away and resolved to make an effort to have Mark join me on an episode of Conversations.

That finally happenened this week.

And, I must say, I don’t believe I was too far off on the whole kindred spirit perception. As you’re about to discover, he and I embarked on a wide-ranging discussion about sports, history, Wales, broadcasting, viral moments, crazy cats, World Cup, and much – much – more.

When the Conversation finally drew to a close, I dare say we were both shocked to see we’d been talking for close to 90 minutes. To us, at least, it felt like 15.

I hope you find Mark to be as engaging as I did. Now I need to figure out how to get to Wrexham and have our next discussion in person:-)

^{My Conversation with Mark Griffiths.}

Fan Teaser: Week 191 Solution

June 21, 2026June 14, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

In what is widely considered one of the best – if not the best! – Men’s College World Series finale in its 78-year history, Louisiana State’s Warren Morris belted a MCWS-winning 2-out, 2-run walkoff homer off Miami (FL) closer, Robbie Morrison, to give the Tigers’ a 9-8 victory back in 1996.

Morris, who went on to play parts of five MLB seasons for four franchises, missed considerable time that season due to a wrist injury. Believe it or not, this was his only home run of the season!

^{LSU’s Warren Morris enters full celebration mode rounding first base in Omaha after his walkoff home run won his Tigers’ the 1996 Men’s College World Series. (Associated Press Photo by Rodney White)}

Other recognizable names on the field that June 8, 1996 afternoon in Omaha, included Miami’s Pat Burrell and Joey Cora. For LSU, beyond Morris, future MLB players included Brett Laxton and Ed Yarnall. Also on that LSU team was future College Baseball Hall of Famer and LSU Athletics Hall of Famer, Eddy Furniss. Furniss is also the parent of Ole Miss senior baseball player Will Furniss whose Rebels advanced to Omaha themselves this season.

^{Video of Warren Morris’ 1996 Men’s College World Series-winning walkoff home against Miami in Omaha.}

Conversations with Sports Fans – Ron Teasley Jr. (Father’s Day Special)

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026DouglasTHillLeave a comment

^{From left, former Detroit Tiger Ike Blessitt, Ron Teasley Sr., and Ron Teasley Jr. talk baseball following the rededication of historic Hamtramck Stadium (home to the Negro League’s Detroit Stars) in 2022. (Photo by Robin Buckson/Detroit News)}

I’m joined in this episode by Ron Teasley Jr.

If that name sounds familiar, well, it should. His father, Ron Sr. appeared on Conversations in 2023 (S:2, E:52). At the time, the elder Teasley was 97-years-old (still our most-seasoned guest on Conversations!) and was one of only a handful of known surviving players from the Negro Major Leagues.

Ron Sr. died on February 3 this year as one of only two remaining Negro Leaguers. Today, 101-year-old Bill Greason is the lone survivor.

The junior Teasley joins me in this episode to discuss not only his own life as an athlete (he was a college baseball and basketball player) and his life as a fan (thanks primarily to his father who coached and worked at the Kronk Recreation Center), but also – and most importantly – the legacy his father and mother (Marie Teasley) leave in the Detroit community.

You’re able to learn more about the Ron and Marie Teasley Foundation at this link.