The fella in the green shirt in mid-applause is this week’s guest, Rob LaCommare. Yes, he’s attending a Major League Pickleball match in Columbus. (Photo courtesy of Rob LaCommare)
I graduated from high school an unfathomable 41 years ago.
While I had a few good friends from the Class of 1985, I may have had more in the Class of 1986. One of those friends is this week’s guest, Rob LaCommare.
As will occur, time changes those friendships, folks enter and leave our lives, and Rob was – to some extent – one of those.
That said, in mid-June, we found ourselves at a high school graduation party for his niece (and my wife’s good friend’s daughter), and the stories, well, they flowed.
Eventually, an invitation to appear on Conversations was extended (and accepted), and we agreed upon a time to record.
So, in this episode, I invite you to eavesdrop on a pair of longtime acquaintances talking sports, life, and, um, pickleball?
Yes, in addition to discussing his opportunity to see Brazilian soccer club CR Flamengo play a home match, knock off countless arenas and stadiums thanks to his work travel, Rob sneaks in some pickleball talk, which just might be a first in Conversations’ 277 episodes!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
At the time, the entirety of the facility was housed in a, well, house. It was during an era of fundraising and expansion which is now – I’ve been told by this week’s guest – complete.
Scott Crawford is the current Canadian Baseball Hall’s Director of Operations and has been working there for more than 20 years.
My discussion with Scott is wide-ranging and we discuss everything from his love of sports as a child, falling hard for the expansion Toronto Blue Jays when they entered MLB back in 1977, and the history of the Hall of Fame itself (it dates back to 1982.
Scott’s also kind enough to provide us some background on the Hall’s Class of 2026 that will be inducted this Saturday in St. Marys. The most recognizable name from the class of six is, undoubtedly, Devon White who made one of the greatest catches in Blue Jays’ history when he robbed Atlanta Braves’ slugger David Justice of extra bases during Game 3 the 1992 World Series. Check out the video here.
I also put Scott on the spot near the end of our time together when I ask him to share his favorite artifacts housed at the Museum.
Don Drooker from 2015 with many of his baseball cards. (Photo by Dave Martinez/Daily News-Sun)
(Editor’s Note: As we close in on the fourth anniversary of the launch of Conversations with Sports Fans [June 9th] we’re counting down the top four most-listened-to episodes in the show’s history. This is the third most-listened to episode.)
My wife’s cousin, John Gola III, owns a wildly popular and successful sports card and collectible shop in Phoenix, AZ, aptly named, AZ Sports Cards. I thought John would make a fantastic Conversations’ guest as someone working in the ever-changing and growing sports collectible industry.
John was squeamish about joining me, but offered up a worthy substitute in one of his store’s employees: Don Drooker.
In parlance Don (and many others) will understand, as a guest he was a Gem Mint.
To that moment, his was the longest episode I’d done. It clocked in just under 90 minutes and I was worried how it would be received.
Turns out, it was received very well!
Don shared stories of his fandom dating back to the time he saw Hall of Famer Ted Williams make his triumphant return from service during the Korean War. Yes, you read that correctly, Don was inFenway Park that day in 1953 and witnessed Williams receive a standing ovation for simply appearing as a pinch hitter and then again after popping out.
Haven’t listened to the Don Drooker episode yet? Check it out below.
Similar episodes to Don Drooker:
Season 2, Episode 18 Dennis Hafeli – One of my former high school English teachers, Dennis Hafeli was heavily into sports collectibles (especially cards and autographs) and during our Conversation he shares tales from his 25 years attending the card show in Cooperstown, NY, each Hall of Fame Induction Weekend; being present for Hank Aaron‘s record-breaking 715th home run; popping in to visit Mark Fidrych when he and his family happened to be in Northborough, MA, on a vacation; and serving as entertainment for the Detroit Lions’ 1980 training camp.
My guest Michael Clair with the World Baseball Classic trophy and the cover of his debut book.
Around the time I was preparing to head to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the World Baseball Classic and Event No. 47 of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project, I happened to catch this video from Major League Baseball about Korean baseball entitled “Behind the Flag.”
One of the individuals featured speaking about Korean baseball was someone name Michael Clair. Another featured speaker was Jee-ho Yoo, a 2-time former Conversations with Sports Fans guest (S:4, E:7 and S:5, E:17) and an English-language sports writer for Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
I figured anyone worthy of sharing screen time with Jee-ho was worthy of me doing a bit of research about. Turns out Michael is MLB.com’s lead writer for all things international which, of course, included the WBC. A little further sleuthing and I discovered Michael was about to publish his first-ever book, We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball: How the Czech’s Amateur Underdogs Became World Baseball Classic Heroes. It’s the story of the improbable rise of Czech Republic baseball. As I read the synopsis, I was reminded of the uniqueness of this national team where the players (almost to a man) worked full time jobs and played baseball on nights and weekends.
While I’m always up for talking baseball and writing, I was especially intrigued about the Czech story so I reached out Michael.
And here we are😊
During this episode Michael shares his journey from New England to telling the story of international baseball as MLB.com’s senior manager of storytelling and special projects. Oh yeah, we talk plenty about the Czech team and We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball.
I’m also delighted to give away an author-signed copy of the book to one lucky entrant. All you need to do to enter is email me at hilldouglast@gmail.com by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, 2026, and you’re in the drawing. If you’re a member of the $80 for 80 Circle of Champions and enter, your entries will be tripled!
Well, apart from all spending time playing for California-based MLB teams, their surnames are all a bit, shall we say, fishy sounding.
So, if we wanted to make it a bona fide Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition and craft a Feast of the Seven Fishes edition of the#FanTeaser, who should be added?
There’s also more trout to be served in the form of Dizzy and his son, Steve Trout.
And, yes, there are four other Salmons to have appeared in MLB (Roger, Harry, Chico, and Brad) and even a Crab (Roy).
My preference is to go back to the MLB bass hole for our seventh member. There are, in fact, eight more Basses beyond Kevin. There is Anthony, Brian, Dick, Doc, John, Leroy, Norm, and, my choice, Randy.
Hanshin Tigers’ first baseman, Randy Bass, won the offensive triple crown twice during his six seasons in Japan. (Photo by Kyodo)
Why Randy, you ask?
Well, it certainly isn’t for his relatively pedestrian 6-year, 130-game MLB career with a .212 batting average and nine career homers.
However, Randy played his final six professional seasons in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers where he batted .337 and belted 202 homers, including a whopping 54 during the 1985 season when he led the Tigers to their only NPB championship. In 2023 he and Venezuelan, Alex Ramirez, were the first two foreign-born players inducted into Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame. (Check out this article about their complicated path to induction here.)
And, the real reason for selecting Randy – I suppose – is the Japanese culture’s affinity for – wait for it – fish.
A tray of Japanese sushi.
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.
