Just Between You and Me: This is a Happiness Thing

Given the chance to vacation anywhere in the world, where would you spend your time?  Country music superstar Charley Pride answers that question each Spring when he attends camp and participates in the same ritual that he has been partaking in since 1972 with the Texas Rangers, and long before that, since childhood.

From an article on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram web site on March 10, 2010, Charley beams about his love for baseball.

"I could be in Hawaii or Europe or wherever and I'm here," said Pride, a Grammy Award winner. "This is a happiness thing. I can still play and throw. If I went out and got in really top, top shape I could get it up to about 75. When I played, I could throw in the 90s. I had all three pitches, the hummer, the hook and the change."

Born in 1938 in Sledge Mississippi, Charley was one of eleven children (enough to field a team and then some) and grew up listening to country music on the radio.  According to the Mississippi Writers and Musicians web site, Charley's training regimen for both careers took hold early as Charley was given the nickname "Mocking Bird" by a neighbor who says Charley's daily chores were to sing each morning and to play baseball.

At the age of 14 he bought his first guitar and taught himself to play by listening to the radio and at the age of seventeen he ventured out to become a star.  Finding his way through both careers, Charley found work unloading lumber and working at a smelting plant, all the while - he was playing for the American Negro League and semi pro baseball.  Charley's career in music finally took off after a meeting with legendary producer Chet Atkins who had a baseball scout's eye for talent and signed him to a contract with RCA.  Over the course of his music career, Charley has had 36 number one country singles, and was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.

On June 5, 2008, Charley, and 28 other living former Negro League players were "drafted" by each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams in a recognition of their skills and historical relevance of the Negro League stars.

One of Charley's most popular songs was the Grammy winning, "Just Between You and Me" which is today's Baseball Song of the Day.

Just Between You And Me 

So I feel so blue sometimes I wanna die
And so I've got a broken heart so what
They say that time will heal all wounds in mice and men
And I know that someday I'll forget and love again

But just between you and me
I've got my doubts about it
But just between you and me
You're too much to forget

So I've lost the only girl I ever loved
And so I've never felt so low so what
I'll just tell myself each time I wanna cry
That someday time will dry the teardrops from my eyes

But just between you and me
I'm not so sure about it
Cause just between you and me
You're too much to forget
You're too much to forget

Day 21: Nolan Ryan, He's a Hero To Us All

Ok, you're picking your team. You can have anyone that you want, whom do you pick first? How about a 60 year old ex-flame throwing right hander? The Texas Rangers are looking to do just that. Now, before you start writing the screenplay about an old timer looking to break into the big leagues nearing his AARP years, and make millions in Hollywood, it's important to remember that this is no "sleeper pick." This is Nolan Ryan, and this is a report about him possibly becoming the next President of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club.

Since retiring from his playing days, he's been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, worked with the Rangers and Astros in "personal services contracts", and is the owner of two minor-league clubs, the Triple-A Round Rock Express and the Double-A team, the Corpus Christi Hooks.

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According to an article written by Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram titled, "Ryan getting Rangers' vote for presidency?"

Rangers owner Tom Hicks met with Nolan Ryan over lunch in Georgetown on Friday and might be trying to lure him away from the Houston Astros and back to the Rangers.

The bait might be the club presidency.

Ryan confirmed the 90-minute meeting with Hicks, son Tommy Jr. and Rangers vice president Jim Sundberg, and said that the team’s search for a president did come up in the conversation.

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With over 5,000 strikeouts, 7 no hitters, a member of the HOF, the Nolan Ryan Express just may be making another pitch. Today's Baseball Song of the Day is "Nolan Ryan, He's a Hero to Us All" written and performed by the outlaw country musician, Jerry Jeff Walker.

Mr. Walker's most well known song, was the hit "Mr. BoJangles" which he first wrote and recorded in 1968, but reached #9 on the billboart chart in 1971 when it was sung by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

BSOD 21: Nolan Ryan, He's A Hero To Us All
Artist: Jerry Jeff Walker
Album: Navajo Rug
Released: August 1991


To hear a sample of the song, click on the album, and on the page that appears, there are links to listen to the song.

Nolan Ryan, He's a Hero to Us All lyrics

Well, our story starts in Texas, where he's tempered by the heat
That skinny Alvin boy believes his fastball can't be heat
So he brings it and he brings it and it passes every test
They're talkin' he's a wild man might be the fastest in the West

Well, he's drafted by New York, he's gonna pitch up there in Shea
With those amazing Mets, he'll help them take it all the way
He gets a World Series ring, he stays modest, he don't boast
Now it's off to California, where he'll make history on the coast

Chorus:
Nolan Ryan, he's a hero to us all
Nolan Ryan, he stands straight, he stands tall
He don't mess around boys
He just throws a mean fast ball

Tom Morgan is the angel, gets Nolan in second gear
Then he pitches four no-hitters in about as many years
He's working for Gene Autry, they're calling him the Ryan Express
He throws one ball a hundred, now he's the fastest in the West

But after eight years on the left coast,
He says he wants to come home
So he signs on with the Astros,
He'll bring magic to the dome
As he throws his fifth no-hitter,
They're talkin' about he might be the best

In Texas people know, he's the fastest in the West

Chorus

Now he's a Texas Ranger, but he don't tote no gun
He'll mow you down with the heater, you smell leather, hear it hum
He throws a sixth no-hitter, the Oakland A's just met Big Tex

Now they're gonna judge all the rest,
Boys, against the fastest in the West

Now let's count up some numbers, he's forty-three years of age
He's got 5200 strike-outs, six no-hitters to date
There's 57 shut-outs, right up against 300 wins
And on the very first ballot, the Hall of Fame's gotta take him in