Pacific Coast League Has Molloy Flavor

Former Archbishop Molloy H.S. baseball standouts Mike Baxter and Dennis O’Grady have faced each other regularly this season in the Pacific Coast League.

John and J.J. Franco (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Notable Diocesan MLB Draftees

In this year’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, two players with local diocesan ties were selected and now have a chance to live out their baseball dreams.

MLB Stars Remember Faith-Based Roots

A handful of professional baseball players are about about their faith, and it’s this strong faith that has helped them get where they are.

Father Ed Kachurka waving one of his many '"Terrible Towels." (Photo by Jim Mancari)

Steelers Priest Bleeds Black and Gold

The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a very uncharacteristic 0-4 start this season. A rash of injuries has made it difficult for the Steelers to find a rhythm. While panic might be taking over in Pittsburgh, a beacon of hope resonates from right here in the Brooklyn Diocese at Mary’s Nativity-St. Ann parish, Flushing. If […]

Brooklyn Bishop’s Bro Breathes Baseball

Friday, April 19, 2013 seemed like a typical day at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. The New York Yankees were in town to take on the Blue Jays, with veteran lefty Andy Pettitte squaring off against right-hander Brandon Morrow. The turnstiles clicked away as 40,028 fans filed into the stadium to witness the game between […]

White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper walks his pitchers through a series of drills during spring training in Glendale, Ariz. (Photo by Ron Vesely © 2013 Chicago White Sox)

Queens Youth Shaped White Sox Coach

Don Cooper vividly remembers growing up in Maspeth, Queens. He and his buddies played sports every day – mainly as Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) stars in baseball and basketball for St. Mary’s of Winfield, Woodside. He said he didn’t have a care in the world and can still recall the schoolyards, gymnasiums and baseball fields […]

Like Father, Like Son In the Franco Family

The game of baseball has been uniting father and son since the game’s inception in 1846. This past Father’s Day, June 18, scores of young ballplayers expressed their gratitude to their dads for sharing a mutual love of America’s pastime. One of those ballplayers was J.J. Franco, the son of long-time New York Mets lefty […]