ROGER MONROE

In the summer of 1962 my brother, Zack Monroe, was pitching for the San Diego Padres, then a member of the Pacific Coast League. He was having a great season, leading the league in E.R.A., and looking darn good. The fans loved him and so did a 10-year-old by the name of Merl Ledford. Merl was pitching, too, in a Little League. Merl, though, wasn’t doing so good.

“I was hitting too many batters. It was hard throwing strikes,” he said.

So, Merl decided to seek the advice of a pro. He managed to approach Zack before a Padres game. The Peoria player, always accommodating to fans, took the time to talk with Merl, offering some throwing tips and encouragement to stay focused both on and off the field about life values and positive attitudes.

Merl said he used the advice for the rest of his life as a Little League coach for his own son and other youngsters, and as a successful attorney.

On a recent evening while having dinner with his wife, he reflected on his experience with Zack and wondered where the former Padres player was and whether he was even alive. With the encouragement of his wife, he contacted Major League Baseball and connected with Jeff Lantz, Senior Manager Communications for MLB. Ledford said he wanted to see if he would reach Zack, perhaps by phone, to thank him 60 years later for his sage advice. As part of the process, Jeff called me and a telephone conversation was arranged.

Sixty years later, Zack and Merl hooked up again, this time, by phone. The warm and friendly chat went on for quite some time as if they were old-time friends reuniting. A close friend of mine, Cathy Reynolds, recorded the lengthy conversation as the two discussed baseball then and today.

The video recording was sent to Jeff. who was so impressed he passed it along to Kris Van Cleave of CBS News. They loved it and made the decision to make it a feature story on the national network.

Arrangements were made to fly the now 72-year-old Merl Ledford to Peoria to meet Zack and thank him personally for taking time to help a 10-year-old Little League player in the summer of 1962. And CBS News wanted to be there for the 60-year reunion. The network flew a news crew from Phoenix to video the event, which was held at Alexander’s Steak House, thanks to owner Steve Shaw.

The noon get together could not have been scripted better by Hollywood. Zack and Merl shook hands while smiling eyeball to eyeball. They sat down and talked and talked as family members admired the budding friendship. Since the initial meeting between the two started on a professional baseball field, it was only natural for the reunion to end on one.

Zack and Merl gathered later at Dozer Park, home of the Peoria Chiefs, a Class A team of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Midwest League. The next day Merl and his son, Geoff, returned to California with more pleasant memories of Zack and his family.

Of course, we remember a 10-year-old who never forgot the kindness of a professional baseball player who never forgot the Midwestern values taught by his mother and father about caring for others.

The human interest story is scheduled to be broadcast on the CBS-TV network on a Saturday morning in July. Interestingly, Zack turns 93 July 8.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

In the middle of the indictment of a former president and accusations that the current president took $5 million in an alleged bribery scheme, plus the shooting death of a young Peoria juvenile along with violence in other cities, we celebrate the founding of this great country this month. I’m proud to be an American and will, as I do each day, fly the U.S. Flag on July 4th. I hope you do, too.

While in the U.S. Army stationed in Europe, I traveled to Spain, France, England, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands. I’ve been to Austria, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and Mexico. We’re not perfect, but we remain the best country in the world. God bless America!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
— Abraham Lincoln