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Be inspired of this Sports Stories For Kids. We all love listening and reading great stories and many times they can be powerful teaching tools. There is a new book, Tale Of A Baseball Dream written for children ages 8 to 12, but I really think anyone would enjoy it.
It is a heartwarming story of a father's love for his son and the success that can be achieved with the support and encouragement of others. Your kids will love the relationship between Dusty and his father and hopefully will be able to make connections to their own lives of times when they felt like giving up, but someone encouraged them to keep going.
This book provides an excellent example of what can happen when you have someone who truly believes in you and encourages you every step of the way. It is a great example of what happens when you work hard, encourage yourself and others, and never give up. If you are a baseball fan, especially a Red Sox fan, you will enjoy the entwining of the legend of Bubba'The Brute' Brugosee with the story of Dusty and his father, and will definitely relate to the fan frustrations!
Enjoy the first few chapters below and if you would like to purchase the book click here.
We want to hear your or your child's stories of 'never giving up'. Send us your story in the comments below and the winner for the best comment will receive FREE a personalized signed copy of Tale Of A Baseball Dream and a note from it's author. I'm looking forward to hearing your stories!
Craig Sigl, the Mental Toughness Trainer
Tale Of A Baseball Dream
by Jerry Pearlman
Chapter 1
Our Story Begins
It was a perfect afternoon in September, and I was pitching balls to Dusty in our local neighborhood park. Dusty was eight -years-old, and full of smiles and energy.
It was getting kind of late, and I was about ready to call it quits, when Dusty hit a ground ball just to my right. I dove for the ball, but it trickled past me. Dusty turned 1st base and headed towards 2nd. I grabbed the ball, jumped to my feet, and began to run towards 2nd to try and tag him out. Dusty dove on his belly to try and beat the tag.
'You're out!' I said, as I rolled over to sit up while holding the ball over my head.
'Uh uh, uh uh, Dad–I was safe. You missed me with the ball.'
'I am so tired, Dusty! I am so tired. I can't play anymore! ' Dusty then said, 'Come on Dad, one more, just one more Dad.'
'Okay,' I said in a disappointed tone. I fought my way back to my feet and began walking towards where I would stand to pitch him another ball. I threw him another pitch.
Dusty swung and hit the ball to right field, just clearing the infield in the air.
'Did you see that? Did you see that, Dad? Wow! THAT'S THE GREATEST HIT I'VE EVER SEEN!' Dusty threw his hands in the air, did a little skip, and enthusiastically started running around the bases.
I calmly fell to the ground.
******************************************************************
Chapter 2
The Legend
Many years earlier, a New Jersey sports fan was in his living room listening to his radio. He went stomping into the dining room to talk to his wife, as she was putting a casserole dish on the table.
'Did you hear that? Did you hear that, baby? They got rid of ‘The Brute.'' The man said to his wife, in a kind of desperate and non-believing voice. He then turned to face the radio and again said, 'They got rid of ‘The Brute.' I can't believe it. What are we gonna do now?'
Bubba 'The Brute' Brugosee had led the league in the categories of home runs, runs batted in, and batting average for six of the first seven years he was in the league. As a pitcher, Brugosee led the league in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, all seven years.
'The Brute' had just gotten word that he had been traded from the New Jersey Force, by their owner Larry Shobeling, and his assistant Ralph Schnooberhuber. That evening, the owners of the New Jersey Force were interviewed on television,and provided all of New Jersey with their explanation, that they regret that they had to let 'The Brute' go, but that his better days were behind him.
They proceeded to attempt to paint a bright picture for the future of New Jersey baseball, and reassured the people of New Jersey that they would continue to win many World Championships.
Soon after that, 'The Brute' arrived in Cleveland, and appeared very sad and unhappy. The reporters surrounded him and were barraging him with questions. 'The Brute' was half-heartedly answering their questions, when a reporter from the back of the crowd said, 'New Jersey says you can no longer play and that they can win without you. They said they dumped their trash on our lawn.'
There was then a complete silence in the air.
'The Brute' slowly looked up. It was said that you could then see the glare in his eyes, the intensity in his face, and the veins popping out of his neck.
He then spoke in a slow and very direct voice. 'You tell New Jersey, THEY WILL NEVER WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP AS LONG AS I LIVE!'
Plots b r. There was then all sorts of stirring and commotion in the crowd. 'The Brute' then spoke again. 'You tell New Jersey that Cleveland will dominate the baseball world from this day until the END OF ALL TIME!'
To read the rest of the book, click here.
The calendar has turned to July 1, and that means one thing: It's time for Mets fans everywhere to wish each other a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! Why? On Wednesday, 57-year-old Bobby Bonilla will collect a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets, as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through 2035.
Because of baseball's salary structure, Bonilla's annual payday is often more than some of the game's current stars in a given year. Thanks to the shortened season and prorated salaries for players in 2020, that list has grown even longer.
So why does Bonilla get this payday?
In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla's contract.
However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest.
At the time, Mets ownership was invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double-digit returns, and the Mets were poised to make a significant profit if the Madoff account delivered -- but that did not work out.
How rare is this arrangement?
Bonilla last played for the Mets in 1999 and last played in the majors for the Cardinals in 2001, but he will be paid through 2035 (when he'll be 72).
Here are some other notable deferred-money contracts:
• Bobby Bonilla (again): A second deferred-contract plan with the Mets and Orioles pays him $500,000 a year for 25 years. Those payments began in 2004.
• Bret Saberhagen: Saberhagen will receive $250,000 a year from the Mets for 25 years (payments also began in 2004; this was the inspiration for Bonilla's deal).
'The Brute' had just gotten word that he had been traded from the New Jersey Force, by their owner Larry Shobeling, and his assistant Ralph Schnooberhuber. That evening, the owners of the New Jersey Force were interviewed on television,and provided all of New Jersey with their explanation, that they regret that they had to let 'The Brute' go, but that his better days were behind him.
They proceeded to attempt to paint a bright picture for the future of New Jersey baseball, and reassured the people of New Jersey that they would continue to win many World Championships.
Soon after that, 'The Brute' arrived in Cleveland, and appeared very sad and unhappy. The reporters surrounded him and were barraging him with questions. 'The Brute' was half-heartedly answering their questions, when a reporter from the back of the crowd said, 'New Jersey says you can no longer play and that they can win without you. They said they dumped their trash on our lawn.'
There was then a complete silence in the air.
'The Brute' slowly looked up. It was said that you could then see the glare in his eyes, the intensity in his face, and the veins popping out of his neck.
He then spoke in a slow and very direct voice. 'You tell New Jersey, THEY WILL NEVER WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP AS LONG AS I LIVE!'
Plots b r. There was then all sorts of stirring and commotion in the crowd. 'The Brute' then spoke again. 'You tell New Jersey that Cleveland will dominate the baseball world from this day until the END OF ALL TIME!'
To read the rest of the book, click here.
The calendar has turned to July 1, and that means one thing: It's time for Mets fans everywhere to wish each other a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! Why? On Wednesday, 57-year-old Bobby Bonilla will collect a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets, as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through 2035.
Because of baseball's salary structure, Bonilla's annual payday is often more than some of the game's current stars in a given year. Thanks to the shortened season and prorated salaries for players in 2020, that list has grown even longer.
So why does Bonilla get this payday?
In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla's contract.
However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest.
At the time, Mets ownership was invested in a Bernie Madoff account that promised double-digit returns, and the Mets were poised to make a significant profit if the Madoff account delivered -- but that did not work out.
How rare is this arrangement?
Bonilla last played for the Mets in 1999 and last played in the majors for the Cardinals in 2001, but he will be paid through 2035 (when he'll be 72).
Here are some other notable deferred-money contracts:
• Bobby Bonilla (again): A second deferred-contract plan with the Mets and Orioles pays him $500,000 a year for 25 years. Those payments began in 2004.
• Bret Saberhagen: Saberhagen will receive $250,000 a year from the Mets for 25 years (payments also began in 2004; this was the inspiration for Bonilla's deal).
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• Max Scherzer: Will receive $105 million total from the Nationals that will be paid out through 2028.
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• Manny Ramírez: Will collect $24.2 million total from the Red Sox through 2026.
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• Bruce Sutter: Signed a deal with the Braves before the 1985 season with deferred money. He was to be paid $750,000 per year while with the Braves, then for 30 years after he retired, he'd receive at least $1.12 million per year. The Braves will be paying him through 2020. He received the $750,000 figure in 1989 and 1990 because he retired with two years left on the six-year deal, so his 30 years of the other installments didn't begin until 1991.
How this compares to 2020 shortened-season salaries
Besides young players who start their careers earning about half of Bonilla's annual $1.19 million, here are some notable players who will be making less than Bonilla's $1.19 million strictly because the season is only 60 games in 2020 because of prorated salaries, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information's Harrison Marder.
Dansby Swanson -- $3.15 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,165,500
Kenta Maeda -- $3.125 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,156,250
Byron Buxton -- $3.075 million prior to prorated salaries. Slots link casino vegas slot machines&games. Will make approximately $1,137,750
Mitch Moreland -- $3 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,110,000
Michael Wacha -- $3 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,110,000
Hunter Pence -- $3 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,110,000
Michael Fulmer -- $2.8 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $1,036,000
Tommy Kahnle -- $2.65 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $980,500
Gio Urshela -- $2.475 million prior to prorated salaries. Will make approximately $915,750
And these players are losing the closest amount to Bonilla's $1.19 million payday because of the shortened season:
Luke Jackson ($1.825 million prior to prorated salaries). Will make approximately $675,250 in 2020 and will lose approximately $1,149,750
Pedro Strop ($1.825 million prior to prorated salaries). Will make approximately $675,250 and will lose approximately $1,149,750
Tony Wolters ($1.9 million prior to prorated salaries). Will make approximately $703,000 and will lose approximately $1,197,000
Figures from ESPN Stats & Information were used throughout this story.