Max Scherzer 2015

Max Scherzer Drawing

Max Scherzer Drawing in progress

Max is a starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals. He has also played for the Arizona Diamonbacks, and the Detroit Tigers. In 2013 he won the American League Cy Young Award.In 2014 he was tied with two others for the most wins in the AL with 18. 

Yesterday afternoon he was signed by the Nationals, and by this morning I posted on Twitter this drawing of him pitching for the Nats. The Nationals retweeted my post to 234 thousand followers!

Steve Lombardozzi Jr. 2014

Steve Lombardozzi Drawing

Being a die hard Baltimore Orioles fan, and having a Father and Sons who are Washington Nationals fans, I have followed the career of Steve. The Nationals picked him in the Major League Baseball Draft in 2008. He was called up to the big league on Sept. 6,2011. At the end of last season, the Nats traded Steve to the Detroit Tigers, who then traded him to the Orioles before the season started. He is currently playing for the Orioles AAA team, the Norfolk Tides. Joshua saw him play in Norfolk this summer while on the Potter Tour. 

Coach Dave Trembley at Camden Yards 2014

Dave Trembley Drawing

Coach Dave and I at Camden Yards 

Coach Dave and My Pop and I

Coach Dave and I with Jacob and Joshua

Coach Dave signing prints

My signed print

Coach Dave and I talking baseball

Dave Trembley is the current bench coach for the Houston Astros. He served as the Manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 2007 until 2010. About a month ago, I received an email from Coach Dave. He had seen the drawing that I did of him in 2009, and was inquiring about getting it for his family as a keepsake of his time in Baltimore. I never thought the original drawing was a very strong piece and began working on a new image for Coach Dave while we planned a meeting. 

Last night my family met Coach Dave at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He had arranged for field passes for my pop, two sons and I. We joined him on the field for the Astros batting practice. I presented him with the new drawing that he had not seen yet, and he presented Jacob and Joshua with signed bats. He also tossed each of them a ball while he was hitting ground balls during infield practice. 

We discussed baseball like old friends, and I told him about coaching my boys in youth baseball. He spoke to my Pop and I about his twenty plus years in professional baseball, and basing his entire career on just treating people well. He closed our conversation by saying that we are friends now, and please email him from time to time. I am looking forward to seeing Coach Dave later this summer when the Astros play an inter league series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.

Stephen Strasburg 2010

Stephen Strasburg Drawing

Washington Nationals rookie pitcher. On June 8,2010 I was at the major league debut of pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Stephen was the Nationals 2009 first overall, first round draft pick. Baseball media and experts said that there has never been so much hype for a major league debut. Stephen exceeded expectations striking out fourteen Pirates over seven innings (one strikeout shy of a major league debut record), without giving up a walk, and only two hits. This game was without question one of my top two or three games all time!

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez 2010

Ivan Rodriguez Drawing

Washington Nationals Catcher. Ivan has played for five major league teams before joining the Nationals for the 2010 season. Ivan is commonly regarded as the best defensive catcher that has ever played the game. Ivan won the American League MVP Award in 1999. He also won the National League Championship Series MVP Award, en route to winning the 2003 World Series with the Florida Marlins. He holds the all time major league record for the most games ever caught.

Ryan Zimmerman (2009)

Ryan Zimmerman drawing

In the 2008 season, the Washington Nationals opened their new stadium Nationals Park. Pop and Joshua and I were there for the Inaugural game, when in the bottom of the ninth inning Ryan hit a walk off home run! At the end of the 2009 season, Ryan was awarded with his first Gold Glove award for the National League third baseman.

Josh Bard and Joshua Bardsley (2009)

Josh Bard Drawing

Joshua Bardsley drawing

In 2009 my son, Joshua Bardsley, played little league for the Kent Island Youth Baseball and Softball Club. He Played middle infielder for the Zussman Hooks. The team went undefeated in the regular season, and steamed through the end of the year double elimination tournament without a loss, winning the championship. Joshua went the entire regular season without a strikeout, and had an on base percentage of .827. That same season, the Washington Nationals had a catcher named Josh Bard.

Ray Knight 1986 World Series MVP

Ray Knight drawing

Me with Ray Knight at National Park

If you read the Gary Carter post, you know I was a Mets fan when they won the World Series in 1986. Ray Knight was the third baseman, and MVP of the series. In 2009 he did the pre and post game show for the Washington National games. He autographed my drawing at National Park.