Florida Catholic | Baseball Spring Training Is A Hit With Area Clergy

Baseball spring training is a hit with area clergy

Some of central Florida’s “cracker jack” pastors have a spring fervor for baseball.

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLI CORRESPONDENT

Published: 03.21.08

VIERA | While “little robin redbreast” may be the harbinger of spring in the snow up North, here in Florida, it’s “take me out to the ball game” — the Major League Baseball spring training clubs — that signals the end of winter.

“The Detroit Tigers are the team. They’ve been coming here since 1934,” explained Father John P. Caulfield, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Lakeland. “They’re a very special gift that is offered to our community. Lots of people from Michigan come. It’s a dimension to our great city we look forward to every spring.”

“It’s a time of new beginnings,” said Holy Cross Father Laurence M. Olszewski, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Viera, speaking of the spirit of Lent and spring training for the Washington Nationals baseball team that practices directly across the street at Space Coast Stadium. “What better way to spend a Sunday — you come to church to praise God and then you go across the street to cheer for your team. It’s a healthy way to spend time with your family — especially in our beautiful Florida weather.”

The pastors’ enthusiasm indicates underlying passion.

“I didn’t grow up wanting to be a baseball player — I’m an Irishman,” said Father Caulfield matter of factly, then in a deepening brogue explained, “The game in Ireland was called ‘Rounders.’” Finally he laughed, “Of course I wanted to play!”

Father Olszewski’s response was similar. “Well, I was a realist as a kid,” he said. “I knew I couldn’t hit those long line drives, but I’m a fan!”

He was such a fan that Father Olszewski was known to go and enjoy a game while overseeing the construction of the parish life center. The center was completed in 2007 and now serves as the church. “They have a wonderful view of the church from the stadium. I would attend a game and get a great view of the progress of the construction.”

Father Christopher A. Hoffmann, pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Kissimmee, offered, “I grew up in Milwaukee with the Brewers and have followed them through the years even living in Florida, but I’ll be at an Astros game the week following Easter.” (Kissimmee is the spring training home of the Houston Astros.) He noted that at this time of year, it’s usual to see Astros shirts at Mass on game days.

For many priests, the relationship with baseball is long and deep. “I was introduced to the Tigers when they won the World Series in 1984,” said Father Caulfield. “Coach George ‘Sparky’ Anderson came to Mass here and was very generous with signed baseballs for the kids. So much so that years later, we decided to celebrate his 60th birthday with a signed baseball for him. Through the good graces of (now-retired) Bishop (Norbert) Dorsey, who was going to Rome for his ad limina (mandatory) visit with Pope John Paul II, he brought a ball with him and had it signed by the pope.”

Bishop Dorsey recalled, “It was my ad limina visit and I was trying to think of what to say. I brought pictures of the shrine (National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando) — you know the Holy Father had a devotion to our Blessed Mother and he was happy to see the photos.

“Then I said, ‘Holy Father, I have a special request. Have you ever heard of baseball?’ He pronounced ‘baseball’ after me and asked what it was. I explained and he indicated ‘yes,’ he had seen baseball.

“When I got my courage up, I showed him the baseball and he said, ‘Let me see.’ I explained that George ‘Sparky’ Anderson was an extremely faithful Catholic who not only participated himself, but also encouraged others to come to Mass with him. I asked him to sign the ball and he asked me, ‘What does “Sparky” mean?’ When I explained that it meant a ‘lively personality,’ he chuckled and wrote in Latin, ‘To Sparky with blessing.’”

The ball was presented to Anderson Feb. 23, 1994, at a special fundraising event for 500 close friends at Santa Fe High School. Baseball player, coach and manager Tommy Lasorda served as master of ceremonies, and Bishop Dorsey presented the ball. When Anderson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., he brought the ball with him, where it remains today.

“The bishop let me hold the ball and made sure I didn’t switch it,” joked the diocese’s quintessential baseball fan, Father Robert Webster, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Clermont and diocesan director of liturgy.

“I lived baseball vicariously. Growing up in New England, I was a Red Sox fan as a child and then a Cubs fan during seminary in Chicago. Fans of losing teams make better Christians,” he laughed. “It’s the redemptive suffering!”

Father Webster has his own extensive and distinguished collection of signed baseballs, as well as a repertoire of baseball stories, including throwing out the first pitch for the Daytona Cubs when he was pastor of the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach.

Baseball’s relationship with the Vatican continues. On his first official visit to the United States, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate public Masses at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., April 17, and at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y., April 20. John Dever, senior director of baseball media relations for the Nationals, shared with the Florida Catholic that the team “will be out of town playing when it’s happening, but we’re excited that the pope is saying Mass at our ballpark — the altar will be in centerfield.”

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