Texas Ranger Baseball

The journalist has been elected three times National Sportswriter of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1993 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. He also received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award grating a seat in the writers wing at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 2004.

Whether at the Boston Globe, Sports Illustrated or ESPN, Gammonss36-year career had been characterized by innovations. He is the inventor of the weekend notes package in his Sunday columns for the Globe. Gammons was also the first to introduce the daily notebook as part of beat coverage and to popularize the reporting of trade rumors, which can now be seen in the form of "Rumor Central" features on most major sports Web sites. Eventually, he had his own way to present sport news incorporating more feature elements and relating to his readers by using music and pop culture references that had no place on a sports page before him.

Journalist Peter Gammons is expected to receive on Tuesday the Baseball America's Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual banquet of the network held at baseball's winter meetings.

Over the past years, Baseball America made donations in excess of $35,000 to MLB Charities for youth baseball programs in disadvantaged areas through the RBI program. For instance, the donations collected last year allowed to help the New Orleans Zephyrs rebuild the only baseball field available to the children of New Orleans. As for this year, the donations will be earmarked for scholarships for African-American baseball prospects to assist their efforts to attend camps, clinics, tournaments and college programs.

MLB: Gammons to Receive Baseball America Award

Before Gammons, other renowned celebrities received this award such as Frank Robinson, John Schuerholz and Buck O'Neil. But Gammons is also listed in the Baseball America's ranking of the 25 most influential people in the sport over the past 25 years, along with such high-profile personalities such as Bud Selig, Donald Fehr, Sandy Alderson, Bill James, Pat Gillick and Sandy Alderson.

Be as comfortable and confident in the 10th as you were in your first at bat. A completely perforated upper, combined with breathable mesh, give this cleat extra comfort that lasts well into extra innings.

I Bet They Play Whiffle Ball Now In Heaven

I Bet They Play Whiffle Ball Now In Heaven

A good student, he graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Mathematics. He eventually became a high school teacher and baseball coach in Asheville, North Carolina. He had a happy and satisfying career and was making a difference in the lives of his young students.

Juan Chesson was probably the nicest guy you would ever meet. He was a year older than me. I was in several classes with his younger brother, Harold. Their father was a teacher and coached high school football and baseball. Consequently, Juan participated in sports and grew up playing whiffle ball, basketball and football with his brother and friends in their backyard. When he got older, Juan played high school football and baseball. Of course, he received all of the sportsmanship awards.

Juan's death made me think long and hard about a few things. I realized that I could take nothing for granted in life, especially my health. If it could happen to Juan, it could happen to anybody.

Eventually the leukemia came back again, this time stronger than ever. Juan fought the good fight, but this time the disease won. Shelton Juan Chesson, Jr. passed away in the fall of 1999. He was just thirty-two years old. He left behind a wife who was eight months pregnant.

Every once in awhile, I find myself wondering about my friend. I bet they play whiffle ball now in heaven. All because of Juan.

Juan went through the traditional medical treatments, using chemotherapy. After a lengthy battle, the leukemia went into remission. When we heard the news, we all let out a sigh of relief. After all, Juan was one of the good guys. But he was not yet out of the woods.

An avid runner, Juan stayed in better shape than any of us once we graduated high school. During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, many of us would get together and play basketball full-court. Several of the players had been all-conference and all-state athletes. Yet no one wanted to guard Juan, because he was always in such great shape!