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***
The sun was barely peaking over the horizon on a quiet Monday morning. Sitting on the tiny outdoor deck at Franny’s Diner, a little ‘hole in the wall’ joint on the shores of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newport News</st1:place></st1:city>, the two sat down enjoying a morning cup of coffee. Neither one cast a physically imposing shadow in the morning sun. Two middle-aged men, one a stocky but well-built gentleman, the other a taller, thinner fellow with a deep leathery tan that showed the effects of so many summers in the sun. Nothing flashy. No outlandish jewelry or garish signs of the wealth both men possessed. Just two guys talking baseball. Breaking down a tough week at the office, happy to be back home. Two men who at first glance were so different, but at the same time, so much alike.
<o:p> </o:p>
I had asked Virginia Colonials’ Superstars Mel Woodbury and Vincent Nino to meet me there that morning. Wanted to talk about the news that both men had made in the last few weeks. You see each man had gained entry into a very exclusive club. In fact, when Nino punched his ticket just five days prior, he’d become just the 6<sup>th</sup> man to do so.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I don’t ever set goals like that,” Nino told me about hitting his 300<sup>th</sup> career HR, “those types of accomplishments are great, but it’s just not something I make a priority. Especially when we’re losing.”
<o:p> </o:p>
On May 9<sup>th</sup> on the road in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hartford</st1:place></st1:city>, Nino would take a 2-1 fastball from Miguel Ricalde and deposit it 367 feet away in the left field stands to take his place in history. The first man to greet him when he got back to the dugout was Woodbury.
<o:p> </o:p>
“Vinny is the best player that I’ve ever played with. I’ve learned more from these few seasons playing with him than my first 8 years in the league. His game was the one I was trying to emulate coming up,” Woodbury said with the wide-eyed sincerity of a Little Leaguer meeting his diamond hero.
<o:p> </o:p>
Nino, however, was quick to dismiss the praise.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I wish I had half of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bell</st1:city></st1:place>’s game. He’s being kind. But do you see how he talks about me like I’m an old man?
<o:p> </o:p>
Though their relationship feels like a teacher and pupil, Nino, who joined the Colonials in a Winter Meeting deal with Carolina back in 1987, is just 10 months the senior of the reigning back-to-back IL Stout Slugger.
<o:p> </o:p>
Woodbury, arguably the most famous hitter in the BLB, joined the exclusive 300 HR club just 16 days prior to Nino when he touched up Ed Coville of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:city> on a full count mistake. He’d add a second bomb the same night and continue to put the accomplishment in the rearview mirror as his red hot April that brought him the IL Batter of the Month Award would leave him at 13 on the season and 309 on his career going into tonight’s opening of an important home series with Stout-mate <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Morgantown</st1:place></st1:city>.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I love this league and this game. I’m blown away to have my name on a list with guys like Vince, Link (Hyundai 1B Harry ‘Missing Link’ Keppel) and Lumar. It’s never lost on me. It never gets old. It’s not what drives me, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of it,” the four-time Glove Wizard said with a wry smile.
<o:p> </o:p>
While the mutual respect between these two millionaire athletes is evident, a sense of urgency also seemed present throughout our conversation. Quick to dismiss their personal highlights, both knew that father time was hard at work on not only their careers, but, on a more immediate note, their time as teammates.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I know the reality of the situation,” Nino started, “I know what we’ve got on this roster and in our system. We added EG (Everardo Gremades) last season and Yo (Yoritoki Maeda) is really putting it together on the corner now. I know I’m the odd-man out. I don’t take it personal. It’s business. I’ve got to think about what’s best for my family and Mr. S has to do what’s best for this team.”
<o:p> </o:p>
“I’m not ready to talk about next year,” Woodbury jumped in, “I know how that game goes and how little control any of us really have on it. But I do know that this year we have a team that can win.”
<o:p> </o:p>
Nino got a taste of Championship champagne with the Carolina Tobs back in 1981, but it was clear that he’s ready for another sip from the Brewmaster’s Cup.
<o:p> </o:p>
“The 300 HR thing feels great. God willing I’ve got 2000 hits, 1000 runs and some more of those numbers things coming up. That’s fine and I know someday it’ll be fun to talk to the kids about those things. But, that’s not my focus right now. I want to win. I want to win now,” Nino’s face turning suddenly serious for the first time all morning.
<o:p> </o:p>
The two stood up to leave as the breakfast crowd was starting to file in. Rumors of a “team only” meeting after the 4 game sweep at <st1:city w:st="on">Wilmington</st1:city> scheduled for later that morning at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Colonial</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> was not confirmed but either player. As I thanked them for their time, Woodbury had one more note to add.
<o:p> </o:p>
“It’s an honor for me to have my name on any list that Vinny is on. I know that sounds like ass kissing, but Vin is a Hall of Famer as a player, a teammate and a guy. But, if I had my choice, the only place I care about seeing our names together is carved into that Cup. You can keep everything else.”
<o:p> </o:p>
Years from now when these two great players are being enshrined in the Brewer’s League Hall of Fame, there’s no doubt their resumes will have some of the greatest numbers in the modern era. While both strive to be the best and may someday be thought of as the HR King of the BLB, Champion is the only crown they crave.
***
The sun was barely peaking over the horizon on a quiet Monday morning. Sitting on the tiny outdoor deck at Franny’s Diner, a little ‘hole in the wall’ joint on the shores of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Newport News</st1:place></st1:city>, the two sat down enjoying a morning cup of coffee. Neither one cast a physically imposing shadow in the morning sun. Two middle-aged men, one a stocky but well-built gentleman, the other a taller, thinner fellow with a deep leathery tan that showed the effects of so many summers in the sun. Nothing flashy. No outlandish jewelry or garish signs of the wealth both men possessed. Just two guys talking baseball. Breaking down a tough week at the office, happy to be back home. Two men who at first glance were so different, but at the same time, so much alike.
<o:p> </o:p>
I had asked Virginia Colonials’ Superstars Mel Woodbury and Vincent Nino to meet me there that morning. Wanted to talk about the news that both men had made in the last few weeks. You see each man had gained entry into a very exclusive club. In fact, when Nino punched his ticket just five days prior, he’d become just the 6<sup>th</sup> man to do so.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I don’t ever set goals like that,” Nino told me about hitting his 300<sup>th</sup> career HR, “those types of accomplishments are great, but it’s just not something I make a priority. Especially when we’re losing.”
<o:p> </o:p>
On May 9<sup>th</sup> on the road in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hartford</st1:place></st1:city>, Nino would take a 2-1 fastball from Miguel Ricalde and deposit it 367 feet away in the left field stands to take his place in history. The first man to greet him when he got back to the dugout was Woodbury.
<o:p> </o:p>
“Vinny is the best player that I’ve ever played with. I’ve learned more from these few seasons playing with him than my first 8 years in the league. His game was the one I was trying to emulate coming up,” Woodbury said with the wide-eyed sincerity of a Little Leaguer meeting his diamond hero.
<o:p> </o:p>
Nino, however, was quick to dismiss the praise.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I wish I had half of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bell</st1:city></st1:place>’s game. He’s being kind. But do you see how he talks about me like I’m an old man?
<o:p> </o:p>
Though their relationship feels like a teacher and pupil, Nino, who joined the Colonials in a Winter Meeting deal with Carolina back in 1987, is just 10 months the senior of the reigning back-to-back IL Stout Slugger.
<o:p> </o:p>
Woodbury, arguably the most famous hitter in the BLB, joined the exclusive 300 HR club just 16 days prior to Nino when he touched up Ed Coville of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Davenport</st1:place></st1:city> on a full count mistake. He’d add a second bomb the same night and continue to put the accomplishment in the rearview mirror as his red hot April that brought him the IL Batter of the Month Award would leave him at 13 on the season and 309 on his career going into tonight’s opening of an important home series with Stout-mate <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Morgantown</st1:place></st1:city>.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I love this league and this game. I’m blown away to have my name on a list with guys like Vince, Link (Hyundai 1B Harry ‘Missing Link’ Keppel) and Lumar. It’s never lost on me. It never gets old. It’s not what drives me, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of it,” the four-time Glove Wizard said with a wry smile.
<o:p> </o:p>
While the mutual respect between these two millionaire athletes is evident, a sense of urgency also seemed present throughout our conversation. Quick to dismiss their personal highlights, both knew that father time was hard at work on not only their careers, but, on a more immediate note, their time as teammates.
<o:p> </o:p>
“I know the reality of the situation,” Nino started, “I know what we’ve got on this roster and in our system. We added EG (Everardo Gremades) last season and Yo (Yoritoki Maeda) is really putting it together on the corner now. I know I’m the odd-man out. I don’t take it personal. It’s business. I’ve got to think about what’s best for my family and Mr. S has to do what’s best for this team.”
<o:p> </o:p>
“I’m not ready to talk about next year,” Woodbury jumped in, “I know how that game goes and how little control any of us really have on it. But I do know that this year we have a team that can win.”
<o:p> </o:p>
Nino got a taste of Championship champagne with the Carolina Tobs back in 1981, but it was clear that he’s ready for another sip from the Brewmaster’s Cup.
<o:p> </o:p>
“The 300 HR thing feels great. God willing I’ve got 2000 hits, 1000 runs and some more of those numbers things coming up. That’s fine and I know someday it’ll be fun to talk to the kids about those things. But, that’s not my focus right now. I want to win. I want to win now,” Nino’s face turning suddenly serious for the first time all morning.
<o:p> </o:p>
The two stood up to leave as the breakfast crowd was starting to file in. Rumors of a “team only” meeting after the 4 game sweep at <st1:city w:st="on">Wilmington</st1:city> scheduled for later that morning at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Colonial</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> was not confirmed but either player. As I thanked them for their time, Woodbury had one more note to add.
<o:p> </o:p>
“It’s an honor for me to have my name on any list that Vinny is on. I know that sounds like ass kissing, but Vin is a Hall of Famer as a player, a teammate and a guy. But, if I had my choice, the only place I care about seeing our names together is carved into that Cup. You can keep everything else.”
<o:p> </o:p>
Years from now when these two great players are being enshrined in the Brewer’s League Hall of Fame, there’s no doubt their resumes will have some of the greatest numbers in the modern era. While both strive to be the best and may someday be thought of as the HR King of the BLB, Champion is the only crown they crave.
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