The Smartest Man In Baseball
In my four years as a PawSox broadcaster, it would be hard to pick a favorite player.
But smartest player? That’s easy – Yale University grad Craig Breslow.
(photos courtesy of Kelly O’Connor)
Craig usually had a book in his hands on the long bus trips and I used to get a kick out of asking him about his latest reading material. One season he decided to study the greatest speeches in history from the likes of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and Winston Churchill. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal named him “The Smartest Man in Baseball.”
Oh yea, he’s also a terrific pitcher.
Breslow pitched for the Pawtucket in 2006 and 2007 and was chosen for the Triple-A All-Star Game each season. After appearing in 13 games for Boston, he’s pitched for Cleveland, Minnesota and Oakland over the past two years. This season he made 77 relief appearances to rank second in the American League and posted a 2.60 ERA in 60 games with the Athletics.
I’m writing about Craig today because on Saturday night (November 7th) he’s hosting “The 2nd Annual First Pitch Celebrity Gala” at the Omni Hotel in New Haven, CT. Nomar Garciaparra is the guest speaker and several major leaguers are scheduled to attend.
For more information, check this link or call 203-502-0007.
When Craig was 12-years-old, his older sister Lesley was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, she underwent successful surgery and has been cancer free for 16 years. But the memory of the ordeal his family went through helped inspire Craig to form “The Strike 3 Foundation” which raises funding for childhood cancer research.
“The visionary in me sees the day when all cancers are eradicated,” Breslow writes on the foundation’s website. “The realist understands that the first steps toward this feat are to heighten awareness, raise support, and encourage cancer research. To that end, I am excited by the prospects that our partnership with some local cancer treatment centers offers. United in our goal, we hope together to hasten the arrival of the day when no child with cancer goes uncured.”
Last year’s gala raised more than $100,000 and Breslow is hoping to raise even more money this year.
If you live in New England and don’t have plans on Saturday night, you should consider making the trip to New Haven and supporting a great cause.
Say hi to Craig for me. And ask him what he’s reading these days.
Heard It From Hoard 
It was a wonderful evening, but unfortunately the two times I saw Craig he was hustling to one place or another, and I thought it would be bad form to tackle him at his own event. I’m tremendously impressed by what he has done with his foundation, and how committed he is–plenty of players who’ve made a lot more money than he has haven’t given back a fraction of what he has. It was great to see Nomar; it was heartbreaking to hear the mom of one of the youngsters Craig had been close to speak of the loss of her son. I’m proud to support his foundation.
Kelly
http://www.sittingstill.net
http://sittingstill.smugmug.com