Preparing to face Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and FCI Pekin! Saints Visit FCI Pekin on Saturday!

Here is a list of things I did this week to prepare for this Saturday’s visit to FCI Pekin.  

1. Sent out the trip itinerary to the team
2. Charged the sound system
3. Ate some Greek Yogurt instead of ice cream
4. Got some practice by playing in a church league game
5. Ate some ice cream anyway
6. Packed Gospels and literature for the trip
7. Walked in the footsteps of Babe Ruth

I’m not sure if I have ever walked in the footsteps of Babe Ruth before, but I had the opportunity to do that this week.  

My son Joe and I had an opportunity to take a tour of Wrigley Field earlier this week and this was one of the happiest days I have ever had as a Cubs fan!  The ballpark was built in 1914 and the tour guide shared dozens of stories about the history, hijinks, and heartbreak that has happened there over the years. We got to sit in the bleachers, visit the press box, and even step foot on the field. 

Perhaps the most surreal moment was when we went through a couple of doors and we made our way up a set of stairs on the first base side of the field. These stairs took us to the visitors clubhouse (locker room).  The room itself was incredibly plain- our local Planet Fitness has a more appealing aesthetic.  Our tour guide pointed out that this is the same clubhouse that has been used by every visiting team since 1914.  That means that every opposing player the Cubs have ever faced has prepared to play by walking up and down those same stairs and by getting ready in that room.  Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Ken Griffey Jr., and Nolan Ryan have all been in that room to prepare for a MLB game.  Michael Jordan even got ready in his one game he played at Wrigley Field in 1994!

I could go on and on and on about how many special players have walked those same stairs but for the sake of everyone’s attention spans, I will just say that it was such a special moment and I enjoyed taking that in.  

It was a blessing to enjoy the day and spend time with my son.  I am glad I have had the opportunity to share some big moments with my kids lately.  On that note, Joe and I will be sharing some time on a prison softball field this weekend!

This Saturday marks the halfway point in our season.  It has been a really solid year that has gone by very quickly!

We are visiting FCI Pekin tomorrow.  This is our fourth visit to the prison.  It is always nice to have Pekin on the schedule because that is almost a home game!.....almost…..

We are planning on playing two softball games and having one Gospel sharing time.  

Hunter Stewart will be sharing his testimony and Kris Mettelmann will be sharing the Gospel.  

Despite only having one opportunity to share the Gospel, this may be the biggest crowd we see all year!  

Please pray that God works and allows us to see all of those guys.  Please pray for the hearts of the men and that God would draw them to Himself.  Please pray for our speakers.  Please pray that the rest of the team will have opportunities to share about Christ and that we would all be bold with those opportunities!

On a side note, please pray that there is enough staffing for us to go in.  Please pray that the weather holds off tomorrow and that we are able to play softball in front of a crowd!

I am really looking forward to updating everyone on how the day goes!

In other news, our Federal team had to cancel the July visit because of a prison cancellation.  Our Federal team will be back in action August 22-24.  

PRAISES

• Our season is off to a really good start!
• We have completed three IL visits to IL River CC, Taylorville CC, and Robinson CC.
• So far our IL team has handed out 320 Gospels and seen 29 men make professions of faith
• Our new guys are learning the ministry and have contributed in big ways this year
• Three guys from our IL team are heading to Kentucky next month for a 5 day trip to several prisons across the state.  
• We have met our needed financial goal for our Illinois team!

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Please pray for the 29 men who have made professions of faith during our IL visits this year
• Please pray for the 60 men who made professions of faith during our Federal Prison trip to Texas in June.
• Please continue to pray that we are still able to get into each facility despite staffing issues at the prisons.
• Pray for the hearts of the inmates we will see this summer. Pray that God draws their hearts to Himself.
• Pray for the hearts of our own missionary athletes and that we are bold in our prayer lives and bold sharing the Gospel this summer.

Inside the Mind of Gibby- A Tribute to Bob Uecker

For all of my loyal readers… yes, the three of you who actually read this regularly… you are used to reading about prison ministry, softball, the legendary bus, and the hijinks that ensue. This month I wanted to take a moment to share some quotes and stories about someone who impacted the game of baseball and all of sports for that matter. Bob Uecker made sure that the game of baseball wasn’t taken too seriously. Uecker passed away earlier this year but here are some of my personal favorite quotes and stories. 

On Mental Toughness 

“When I played, they didn’t use fancy words like, “emotionally distressed.” They just said I couldn’t hit. When I came up to bat with three men on and two outs in the ninth, I looked in the other team’s dugout and they were already in street clothes.” 

Before the Cardinals took on the Yankees in Game 2 of the 1964 World Series, Uecker picked up a tuba during batting practice, walked to the outfield and proceeded to shag fly balls with it. 

"They had some Dixieland bands on the field that were playing before the game, and while one of them was taking a break, I grabbed one of the tubas and put it on and went out in the outfield and started shagging fly balls with it. I didn't catch them all. Some made dents in the tuba, but I caught a couple." 

On Fatherhood 

“The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh, I was proud.” 

On Celebrity Athlete Endorsements 

“I had a great shoe contract and glove contract with a company who paid me a lot of money never to be seen using their stuff.” 

The Funniest Joke 

“And now the funniest joke I ever heard. These two ballplayers went duck hunting. They were out in the marshes for over an hour. They didn’t get anything. Didn’t shoot anything. Finally, one says to the other. I wonder why we haven’t got any ducks. The other one says, maybe we’re not throwing the dog up high enough!” 

During the 2006 World Baseball Classic Former MLB manager Jim Lefebvre was managing the Chinese team. 

“Our good pal Jim Lefebvre and the Chinese team lost to the Taiwan team today 6-1. It’s safe to say that Jimmy and his boys won’t be welcome on the mainland anytime soon.” 

Appearing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 

Johnny Carson- “You were a catcher?” Uecker- “No, I was a chaser.” 

His 2003 Hall of Fame Speech 

“I still, and this is not sour grapes by any means, still think I should have gone in as a player.” 

This article was “Juuuuust a bit outside” what you would expect to see here but from one backup catcher to another, thank you, Bob for your contributions to the game, reminding us the best seat in the game is oftentimes just sitting on the bench, and reminding us to not take the game so seriously. 

For more information about Bob Uecker’s career, please visit https://baseballhall.org/discover/the-hall-of-fame-remembers-bob-uecker 

Editors Note from The Saints "The Insider Newsletter": Tom Gibson - Gibby to all of us - wears the tuba as well as Uecker ever did. His unique brand of humor is eclipsed only by a heart for Jesus as big as all outdoors, making him a favorite teammate of every crusade team with which he travels. Many of the attributes he admired in Uecker are the same attributes we love in Gibby, and the Saints Prison Ministry is better with him in the family.