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Items included in this column are things that I have heard, seen or have been reported to me. I cannot vouch for their veracity.

Minnesota Twins fans have enjoyed the defensive exploits of centerfielders Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter for two decades. The drama of a leaping, against the wall catch or a horizontal, sliding, rolling grab is hard to beat.

When Hall of Famer Tris Speaker patrolled the outfield grass, centerfield was said to be the place “where triples go to die.” Known as the Gray Eagle because of his gray hair and speed in the outfield, he signed his first professional contract in 1906. He played with the Red Sox from 1908-16, spent the next 10 years in Cleveland and finished his career with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Speaker was credited with revolutionizing centerfield play. During his career, he had at least six unassisted double plays. He would catch the ball in center and outrace baserunners trying to get back to second. People who saw him play say that he routinely threw out players at first base, after fielding a ball in centerfield.

He was blackballed by owners when he wanted to manage after his playing years were over. Apparently, Speaker shared an interest in gambling with Ty Cobb.

Unable to remain in baseball, Speaker used his cowboy skills in Will Rogers’ travelling show. He rode a horse and entertained the customers with rope tricks.

Another great centerfielder, Curt Flood, batted .293 over 15 Big League seasons. He won seven consecutive Golden Gloves while playing for three teams. However, he is probably best remembered because he challenged baseball’s Reserve Clause, which prevented players from changing teams unless they were sold or traded.

Flood challenged the Reserve System in 1970 when the St. Louis Cardinals told him that he’d been traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Although he was sure he would lose the case, the outfielder couldn’t pass up the chance to educate the public about the unfairness of the Reserve System.

Fearful for their own jobs, few, if any, teammates or other players came to court to support him. The Supreme Court heard his case in 1972 and upheld the Reserve Clause. Three years later, Andy Messerschmidt and Dave McNally were granted free agency in an arbitrator’s decision. The Reserve Clause was dead.

The runner at third was dead, too. On May 28, when Twins second baseman Luis Castillo picked up a slow grounder and tagged out a Seattle Mariner runner trying to advance from first to second, he started a rare triple play. After applying the tag, he threw out the batter at first. First baseman Justin Morneau relayed the ball to Tony Batista at third who tagged out a runner who had rounded third base.

This was the 11th triple play in Twins’ history. Maybe even more rare, Twins’ reliever Juan Rincon, who had relieved Jesse Crain with nobody out and the bases loaded in the eighth, only needed one pitch to retire the side.

The last time the Twins completed a triple play was July 17, 1990. On that day, a Gary Gaetti to Al Newman to Kent Hrbek triple killing ended an inning. Perhaps more amazingly, it was the trio’s second triple play of the game. That was, and is, the only time a major league team turned two triple plays in a game.

Roger Federer, the fantastic Swiss superstar tennis player has a chance to make more history. He currently holds championships in three of four Grand Slam titles. He’s won consecutive Wimbeldon, U.S. Open and Australian Open crowns. If he wins the French Open, he will have swept the Big Four.

The last time anyone’s held all four titles at the same time was 1969, when Australian great Rod Laver did so. In the meantime, superior tennis players like Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras have never accomplished this

In May, 1944, Roger Bannister became the first runner to break the four minute barrier in the mile run. Bannister was a kid from a working class family from an outer London suburb who had a scholarship to Oxford Medical School.

Although he was only able to train about 45 minutes a day, because of his demanding class schedule, Bannister ran a 3:59.4 at an Oxford meet May 6. Today, Sir Roger Bannister is the director of Britain’s Hospital for Nervous Diseases. He travels extensively, promoting health care and athletics in third-world countries.

At the Memorial Day ceremonies in North Branch, a list of deceased local American Legionaires was read. I noticed a WWII Vet standing near us as he teared up during the reading. It was moving.

When I think of Vets, I usually think of men who served in the WWII - Vietnam era.

I heard some things during the day that made me re-think.

1) 2200 Civil War Vets from Minnesota are buried in Lakewood Cemetery. in Minneapolis.

2) Nearly 3000 Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

3) Today, one of every seven American Military personnel is female.

4) There are 22,500 female Minnesota Veterans.

5) 41,000 American women served in Operation Desert Storm.

6) Currently, 270 female members of the Minnesota National Guard are serving in Iraq.

7) Thanks to every one of them.

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Dave

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, Mn 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

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