It is during the spring season that a young man's fancy turns to baseball.
As a news copy editor, I don't often have time to write for this paper because I'm too busy reading everybody else's stuff, but I have contributed articles on a free-lance basis to other publications, most notably the Phillies Report, which no longer exists.
Opening day at Veterans Stadium reminded me that there was a void in my life that had to be filled. After covering the Phillies for a few years, I needed another forum for the stories that I wanted to write.
This is the inaugural edition of what will be a regular column. At times I'll be writing feature stories. If there are issues to be discussed, I'll give my opinion. And sometimes I'll just offer some tidbits of information.
One thing I'd like to do is to introduce you to some of the interesting people that I've come across over the years, which brings us to today's topic.
Florida Marlins pitcher Dennis Springer has hurled in seven games thus far this season, and he has a 0-4 record and a 4.31 earned-run average. Three of those appearances were against the Phillies, and they were of particular interest to me.
The 34-year-old right-hander began his major-league career with the Phillies in 1995, and I got to know him during an extensive interview for an in-depth story that appeared in the Phillies Report in December of that year.
After kicking around the minor leagues for nine years, including two seasons in the Phils' system, Springer was a 30-year-old rookie enjoying a September call-up in 1995.
The knuckleballer made four starts (0-3, 4.84) and flirted with a no-hitter in his Veterans Stadium debut on Sept. 19 against his current team, the Marlins, in his second big-league start.
"I have very good memories (of pitching for the Phillies)," said Springer.
"I remember my first start in Montreal (on Sept. 13). I felt like I had pitched pretty well (in that game), and everything just carried over to the (Florida) game. I was throwing (the knuckle ball) for strikes and getting ahead of the hitters, and we had scored a couple of runs, so I had a lead to work with. And I remember Russ Mormon getting that hit."
Mormon, who was pinch-hitting for pitcher Ryan Bowen with two outs in the sixth inning, broke up the no-hitter with a screaming one-hopper through the left side of the infield.
"The people (in the stands) were very appreciative," said Springer. "I remember everybody clapping for me after I gave up that hit."
The pitcher gave up three more hits and a run before leaving the game in the eighth inning. He had a 4-1 lead, but his first win evaporated when the Phillies' bullpen gave up four runs in the ninth in the 5-4 loss.
Springer also singled in that game for his first big-league hit. The winning pitcher, incidentally, was Florida reliever Yorkis Perez, who now pitches for the Phillies.
The Phils thought enough of Springer's potential in 1995 to hire Hall of Fame hurler Phil Niekro to work with the young knuckleballer.
"Anytime you get a chance to work with somebody of his stature, it's going to help," said Springer. "He worked with me for three days, and he changed some things — not just mechanically, but mentally.
"And you know, everybody can always use a refresher course. A couple of years later, I saw him in Boston, and he threw a couple of things at me. We had just come from New York, where I had pitched terribly, but in my next start after talking to (Niekro), I threw a shutout in Cleveland. Obviously, I was very happy to talk with him."
Although the Phillies wanted to re-sign Springer after the 1995 season, the pitcher got a better offer and hurled for the Anaheim Angels in 1996 (5-6, 5.51) and 1997 (9-9, 5.18). He had a forgettable year in 1998 (3-11, 5.45) for the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays and is looking to turn his career around with Florida.
Successful knuckle ball pitchers have been known to pitch to a ripe old age — by baseball standards. Niekro and Charlie Hough were 48 and 46, respectively, when they retired. I'm hoping Springer stays around long enough to at least earn the label "journeyman."
For more information on this pitcher, including regular updates of his outings, check out a Web site (www.SpringerNation.com) maintained by some of his more ardent fans.
Visit the Springer Nation Web site by clicking here. The original interview and story from the Phillies Report is in the "SN Archives" and labled "Dennis Springer ... Before the Nation I (Posted 7/22/99)."
Visit the Phillies Web site.