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Meeting Rose a lifetime highlight

I would like to comment on the article John Mehno had the nerve to print in the Altoona Mirror on Sunday, June 28 about the visit of Pete Rose to the Wild Things Stadium in Washington, PA.

Mehno said, “It would be the saddest thing you would ever see.”

The saddest thing I’ve ever seen was Mehno’s article.

I was in the room with Rose, and we all talked baseball.You could wear whatever you wanted and talk about whatever you wanted without the press in the room. So we got it right.

Rose coached first base in the first inning, third base in the second inning, and even took a shot at his bunting skills before the game started.

Mehno took a cheap shot at Rose’s age of 74, trouble walking and his baldness. That’s what happens when you age. I am the same age as Rose. I have Parkinson’s and walk with a cane.

Mehno could have a field day with me. I’ll stay out of his way.

Before Mehno gets too far off base, Rose was also a gambler, not to mention 4,256 hits, a record that may never be broken. He always put the fans first and wanted to give them their money’s worth.

It was one of the most exciting baseball moments in my lifetime. To meet and greet and to talk with the all-time hit champion was a great experience, one I’ll never forget and have passed on to my two grandsons, who are very involved with playing baseball and knowing the statistics of the game of baseball.

The stadium was very nice. Everyone was friendly and helpful, and Pete Rose was awesome.

God bless, John Mehno.

John Shields

Altoona

Cardinals, Yankees cream of crop

The Major League All-Star Game was last week, and the time prognosticators take a look at the crystal ball and project how the season will end.

As I see it, the Washington Nationals will win the National League Eastern Division with a push from the New York Mets, who possess some great, young up-and-coming pitchers but don’t have any hitters.

In the Central Division, it is perhaps the most consistent baseball team year in and year out – St. Louis. The Cardinals’ organization has no weaknesses. My feeling is that the Pirates will contend for the playoff spot.

And finally, the Western Division. This is by far the weakest division in the National League as no one team wants to win this division. San Francisco has won the World Series the last three of five years. This will be an off year for the Giants. By default, the Dodgers will crawl in at the end and nose out the Giants to win the division.

With the largest payroll in the National League, two or three players will get hot and serve as the catalyst to get this bunch of “Flatbush Bums” into the National League playoffs.

Having said the above, the Nationals will defeat the Dodgers in a tight series, and the Cardinals will outlast the Pirates. The Cardinals will beat the Nationals to win the National League title and face the Yankees in the World Series.

I will leave it up to the Las Vegas folks to come up with the odds-on favorite to take it all.

Les Hart

Duncansville

Franklin scores with traditionalists

What a great decision by Penn State football coach James Franklin to take the names back off of the football jerseys and resort to tradition.

I’ve not had too much positive to say or write about Franklin in the past, but he just moved way up on my list. I respect anyone who gives a nod to tradition, and in this case those jerseys and black shoes always were what made people nationwide recognize Penn State football.

Many thanks to Franklin for this classy move. He will get a lot of respect from longtime Nittany Lion fans, and JoePa himself would be proud and supportive of him.

Now, if we can just strengthen that schedule.

Will Walk

Spring, Texas

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