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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s RPC sporty shout out is sent along to former Putnam High School defensive back Lou Labonte. Today the retired Labonte enjoys playing golf at Quinnatisset Country Club with his cronies. He blew out another candle on the cake on September 8.
It’s hard to believe that East Lyme native John McDonald is 38 years old. It seems like only yesterday that he was playing for the East Lyme Vikings before moving on for two years at the University of Connecticut-Avery Point and finally finishing his college baseball career at Providence College.
This week, just before the Sept. 1 deadline for teams to call up players on expanded rosters, McDonald was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Boston Red Sox. That’s correct, Johnny Mac, the utility player who has been called a “pro” and is respected everywhere he’s played is getting an opportunity to be a member of a team that looks like it will be playing baseball in October.
McDonald’s 15 year Major League career started when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He was then traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he appeared to have found a home, only to be traded briefly to the Detroit Tigers before returning to Toronto. In 2011 he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks and this spring he went through a roller coaster baseball journey.
In the spring he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates and before he could play a game he was sent back to where he started his career, Cleveland. That stop lasted two weeks before he was on his way to Philadelphia. It appears that McDonald is excited about being part of the Red Sox.
McDonald who’s married with a daughter resides in Scituate, Mass., about 20 minutes from Fenway Park.
“My daughter was very excited. She can’t wait for me to come home and hang out with her and put her to bed at night. Growing up in New England and being able to play in Fenway Park and to put on this uniform, it’s pretty awesome,” said McDonald in an MLB Bleacher Report article.
Although he’s spent his entire career as a backup infielder, McDonald is considered a valuable asset because of his versatility and great defensive skills. He’s equally adept at shortstop, second base or third base. His defensive skills once earned him a full-page spread in Sports Illustrated and numerous clips on ESPN’s Sports Center Top Ten Plays of the Day.
McDonald’s mother, Joanne continues to reside in East Lyme following the death of her husband, the popular Jack McDonald who was a noted baseball umpire and football referee in Eastern Connecticut. One of the most moving moments in McDonald’s career occurred when he returned to the Blue Jays shortly after his dad’s funeral. In his first at-bat Johnny Mac, who is not known as a home run hitter, did the unusual, hitting a four-bagger. His return to the dugout was a joyful, tearful event, as there wasn’t a dry eye on the team.
The newest member of the Red Sox comes to Boston one game shy of 1000 Major League games. He has 553 career hits and a .235 batting average. In the field he’s handled more than 3,200 chances, sporting a .974 field average.
After umpiring many of McDonald’s high school, American Legion and Avery Point games, it’s great to be able to see him at Fenway Park. Always a player to give more than 100% between the lines, McDonald should prove to be an asset to Boston on the diamond, in the dugout and in the community.
On Fenway’s Big Screen…
On Wednesday, August 28 my wife Donna and I had the good fortune to take in the Red Sox win over the Baltimore Orioles, thanks to a pair of ducats from WEEI sports radio personality Mike Mutnansky. Seated in a box just behind third base, we were afforded a perfect view of the action, including the various shots projected on the new big screen located above center field.
Between one of the innings, my wife said, “Hey I think that’s Joe Markley on the screen.” Sure enough it was the former Danielson resident with his fiancé Chloe. They were caught on the “kiss-cam” in front of more than 36,000 avid BoSox fans.
Thompson’s Golf Pro
Remembered…
When he was alive, Raceway Golf Club professional Jack Kelly was one of the best liked and respected men in the game of golf. Whether it was fellow golf professionals, the average golfer or the low handicapper, Kelly treated everyone with equal care and respect.
Jack Kelly died in the mid-‘90s when he succumbed to cancer, a dreaded disease that took him nor only from his family, but also the people who frequented Raceway, the person taking a lesson and the community in general. Though he was taken from life too soon, through the efforts of Raceway owner Donald Hoenig, Kelly’s name has been kept alive.
Last week Shennecosset Golf Club in Groton hosted the Jack Kelly PGA Junior Tournament of Champions, consisting of 41 boys and 17 girls from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. The tournament originally ran from 1995 through 2004 and was held at the Raceway Golf Club in its early years.
Taste for NOW…
Former Tourtellotte Memorial High School standout athlete and current Board member of Northeast Opportunities for Wellness (NOW), Earl Rosebrooks sends along word of a gourmet event scheduled for Friday, September 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Elsinore Mansion in Pomfret.
In its second year, the event entitled “A Taste for NOW, A Taste for Life” is once again sponsored by G-Seven Catering Co. and Friendly Spirits and hosted by the Simpson family, and features a variety of foods for every taste from more than a dozen local restaurants, as well as a wide selection of beers and wines. The cost for the evening is a reasonable $60 per person.
From The Annals of Putnam Sports History…
September 1906: Officers of the C.A.C. located on Providence St. are as follows: President, A.A. Brodeur; Secretary, Peter Bonin; Treasurer, William Authier; Hall Committee, George Lewis, Armand Magnan and Noel Dupre.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Over-tip the breakfast waitress.