They don't call it the "hot stove league" for nothing. Instead of gathering around a pot bellied stove in the general store...we were at Dale's Weston Lanes last night to welcome the latest inductees into the Central Wisconsin Baseball Hall Of Fame. Among this years group was Keith "Whitey" Steinagel. He was the long time coach at Mosinee High and an excellent fast-pitch softball player but I'll always remember him as a stand out for the loaded Wausau High School and Legion teams of the late 60's. As kids Mike Green, Scott Reynolds and I would scale the fence at Athletic Park and watch those teams which featured names that are familiar to any Wausau baseball fan...Calliouette, Bird, Cepress, Dorn, Pieper, Weinkauf and Schade. And Whitey Steinagel. Athletic Park and Boileau Field (the little league field behind the right field fence) were our Field of Dreams. I can't tell you how many hours we spent playing pickup games, chasing foul balls or watching the guys who were a few years older and thinking about when we would be able to play in the "big" ballpark. And we did...all three of us playing for Jack Torresani at Wausau East and for Bob McCain with the Wausau Legion. And I've also had the oppourtunity to coach Legion baseball at the old yard for the last 31 years. The field has obviously changed since those days...and changes will continue...but some things remain. Young kids may not play pickup games for hours like we did...but they still chase fouls balls and dream about someday playing in the "big park" And I don't think that will ever change.

Had a chance to meet Joe Block, the radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers last night. He seems like a genuinely nice guy and I think he makes the most of what his role is in the booth. As second banana to Ueck he embraces the role of the numbers guy and concentrates on the nuts and bolts of the game. I appreciate that aspect of any broadcast. He did some work in the Dodgers radio booth and I can hear a little Vin Scully in his low-key delivery. I suppose being around a icon like Scully you can't help but pick up some nuances of the way he calls games.

The Bucks signed GM John Hammond to a three year contract extension yesterday. Herb Kohl knows the team has some big personell decisions looming and taking the uncertainty out of the front office should help. Hammond has built a pretty good team. Sure there have been some misses but also some hits (Mike Dunleavy, Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders) and this team might be able to make some noise as we go down the stretch to the playoffs.

Congrats to the Pointers as they keep rolling along. They beat Whitewater by ten last night to keep a hold on first place in the WIAC. Led by Rapids natives Joe Ritchay and Clayton Heuer they ran their record to 17-2 and 10-0 overall.

Its back to the rink tonight. I'll have the Merrill-Wausau East hockey game as the second half of our doubleheader tonight on Foxsports AM1390 & FM 93.9.

Just a little more baseball. Wausau Legion Baseball Raffle Tickets are now available. First prize is $1500 cash...2nd prize is $500...other prizes include Brewer Tickets. the cost is $20 per ticket and the drawing will be held on May 12th.  With the financial situation of the Legion in flux they are not going to be able to help us much this year...so the raffle will be the major way we fund the program. If you can help me out and buy a raffle ticket or two I would really appreciate it. Just e-mail me at tom.king@mwcradio.com or call (715) 297-1893 and I'll set you up. Or you can send a ticket order to me here at the station 557 Scott Street Wausau, Wi 54403. Checks can be made out to Wausau American Legion Baseball. Thanks in advance!

Songs Of The Day   (from my I-pod)

Little Girl-Syndicate of Sound (1966) an American one hit wonder went Top 10 at the height of the British Invasion

Little Honda-Hondells (1964) a song written by Brian Wilson & Mike Love but released by a group of studio cats that recorded under alot of different names.