Hope Springs Eternal…
Karen and Jay share thoughts on the joy of springtime and the positive energy we all enjoy when this great season arrives.
When springtime comes around, the whole world opens up. All things seem possible. A fresh start. A new beginning. The baseball season is upon us – giving rise to dreams of glory and great achievement. And there is a certain energy that percolates. An electric vibe that we feel and cannot help but transmit to all those who are around us. It’s springtime and there is a magic, positive spirit in the air. In small towns across America, springtime is celebrated with a sense of community that is palpable. Local festivals often mark the arrival of this vibrant season. When families and friends come together to enjoy these festivities, they share in the magic of spring, creating lasting memories steeped in a sense of belonging and joy. The thrill of the baseball season also brings its own special magic. Children and adults alike are filled with aspirations of victory and teamwork. So many towns across the country host Little League games, where excited parents cheer from the sidelines. Conjures up the image of young future star players proudly wearing their caps and digging their feet into home plate, dreaming of becoming the next baseball legend. Hope and ambition are fully on display. Moreover, spring just simply brings the revival of the human spirit. Spring cleaning traditions take hold as people clear out the old to make way for the new. Whether it’s dusting off cherished heirlooms or planting vegetables in the garden, the act of renewal extends beyond the natural world and into our daily lives. It is during this time that families come together to cultivate their gardens, sharing stories and laughter while fostering bonds that grow as surely as their plants. The magic of springtime creates a collective feeling of optimism and possibility that touches every corner of small-town America. As the days warm up, neighborhoods come alive with impromptu gatherings and backyard barbecues, where laughter and conversation dance among friends and neighbors. Festivals celebrating local produce, arts, and crafts further enrich the tapestry of community spirit. In this wonderful time of year, it’s easy to believe that the possibilities are endless, and dreams can indeed take flight as we anticipate the warmth and vibrancy of summer ahead. Springtime holds a unique magic that resonates deeply in the heart of our great country, particularly within its small towns. Let us celebrate its arrival and cherish the opportunities it presents, knowing that brighter days are just around the corner!
This week we are delighted to highlight the many outstanding Granite State baseball stars who have made it to the big leagues and made New Hampshire proud! The Granite State has quietly made its mark on baseball, with nearly 100 players reaching the big leagues. One of New Hampshire’s baseball hotbeds is Penacook, a suburb just north of Concord. Two notable MLB players—Red Rolfe and Bob Tewksbury—graduated from high school there. Rolfe attended what was then Penacook High School, while Tewksbury graduated from Merrimack Valley High School there. Another major leaguer, Joe Lefebvre, also lived in Penacook for a time but graduated from Concord High School. About an hour and a half west, the small town of Charlestown, NH, is home to perhaps the most famous player from the state—Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk. Fisk’s clutch home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series serves as one of the all-time great moments in baseball history! Rich Gale graduated from Littleton High School and after UNH, went on to play for four major league teams. At 6 feet and 7 inches tall, he was also a basketball star in high school. I remember playing against him at Newport High School and being hopelessly outmatched. Meanwhile, here’s a fun fact. Ossipee, NH produced Fred Brown, who not only played professional baseball but also went on to serve as both Governor and U.S. Senator for New Hampshire. In fact, the state’s baseball legacy stretches even further back with Daniel “Doc” Adams of Mount Vernon. Playing as early as the 1840’s, Adams is credited with creating the shortstop position, cementing his place in baseball history. Although New Hampshire has produced its share of Major League talent, none of its players got to play in our home state – as of course, New Hampshire has no MLB team of its own. Instead, local baseball fans rally behind the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a Minor League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays for the past 22 years. But the state’s connection to Canadian baseball runs even deeper. Harry Frazee, the infamous Boston Red Sox owner who traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees, was a frequent guest at the Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch. Legend has it that the deal was signed there, though records confirm it was finalized in New York in December 1919. Just a few years later, the resort was purchased by J.J. Lannin, the first Canadian-born owner of the Red Sox. His journey was as remarkable as any ballplayer’s—once an orphan with nothing to his name, Lannin walked nearly 400 miles to Boston, found work as a hotel bellboy, and eventually built a fortune in real estate and commodities. Baseball isn’t just about the players on the field—it’s about the dreamers, the risk-takers, and the unlikely connections that shape the game’s history. And as New Hampshire’s story proves, sometimes the biggest plays happen far from the
Quote of the Week
"The magic of spring is like the magic of baseball—the promise of new beginnings and the excitement of what is possible." — Unknown
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