Playing Days
My baseball journey began when I was about 5 years old playing baseball with neighbor kids. I am a lefty but started with my brother’s righty glove until I showed enough interest to get the right glove. I was nine when I played my first organized baseball. I still remember my first uniform: sneakers, jeans, and a green Yankees shirt with “W.P.R” embossed across my chest. I continued to play city league baseball throughout my childhood but doubled up my playing time when I made the Wisconsin Centrifugal team in Land O’ Raindrops I continued with Centrifugal for Puddles and Brooks.
Baseball became a passion. I couldn’t get enough and played baseball whenever and wherever I could: at school before, during and after; at other schools; at many ballfields around Waukesha. It wasn’t strictly baseball. Sometimes we had to play variants like strikeout, pickle, or the neighborhood version called tennisball. When I didn’t play baseball, I dreamt of it.
In high school I made the team my first three years but didn’t get much playing time. The coach believed in playing upperclassmen most of the time. I was crushed when I was cut my senior year because the new coach opted to rebuild. It turned out okay because I ended up with a very successful season in the Land O’ Rivers. Throughout college I didn’t get much opportunity to play because I was busy working as much as I could to save for tuition. I always dreamed of playing professional baseball, but I had to face the reality of not having enough talent. I was a decent hitter and threw in the low 80s, but my curve ball stunk. On a side note, I did get the chance to play one year in Milwaukee’s semi-pro Frank Langsdorf league and did okay after learning to compliment a decent fastball with a pokey, deceptive forkball.
The Spectator Side
Watching baseball gives me great joy. I was about 10 years old when my oldest brother treated me to a Sunday afternoon Brewers doubleheader at County Stadium. Driving into Milwaukee was a big deal and I appreciated his annual generosity. Since then, I’ve seen a couple hundred MLB games and watched and listened to hundreds more. That includes listening to day games during Sister Laura’s 8th grade Social Studies class with the radio in my desk and a wire routed through my shirt, or listening quietly in bed as Nolan Ryan or Frank Tanana fanned numerous Brewers players during their west coast visit to play the Angels.
But several years ago, I realized I could enjoy competitive baseball for much less than the cost of a MLB game. On one particular evening, my son expressed interest in going to a Brewers game so we headed to Miller Park. A week later, I opted to go see a Wausau Woodchucks game that was approximately the same cost but only because the Wausau game included a $110 motel stay. I still enjoy an occasional Brewers game, but my entertainment dollars go much further with local baseball.
In the summer of 2024, I finally stopped at a beautifully manicured ballfield near Rome, Wisconsin to watch the local Raiders take on the Oconomowoc Five O’s. The sense of community was an awesome experience. The day was capped off with a grilled brat, cold soda, and hundreds of game photos. I was hooked.
In the spring of 2025, I mapped all the baseball teams in Wisconsin. During the summer with my wife gone to help family in Michigan, I managed to visit 60 different ballparks scattered throughout SE Wisconsin. I tried the brats and a few burgers and I have my favorites. I took thousands of photos that have been pruned to a manageable number. With different blog posts, I will share my experiences and photos.
For 2026 and beyond, I intend to revisit certain favorites and venture out to others.
Behind the Lens
I’ve enjoyed photography for many years. Until recently, my interests have focused (pun intended) on wildlife, wildflowers, and waterfalls. In 2025, my interests refocused on baseball. My intent is to share my photography for the pleasure of players, family, and fans.
Last year I focused heavily on batting and pitching. Going forward that will continue, but I want to get more game action and capture the overall game experience. A new drone should help with that.
Memorabilia
I bought my first packs of baseball cards in 1973. Tens of thousands of baseball cards were added over the years, but that Topps set is still one of my favorites. Sadly, that set was sold long ago to help pay for college.
I still collect specific Milwaukee Braves and Brewers memorabilia. But, several years ago, I took a keen interest in memorabilia from the minor league Milwaukee Brewers who played at Borchert Field from 1902 to 1952. (This is where Owgust, the beer barrel logo originates.) More recently, my collecting interests have expanded to include programs & scorecards, schedules, tickets, photos, postcards, and other items of interest for all levels of baseball across the state. I am always interested in adding to my collection!