I hadn’t had a chance to blog about it yet, but I was so happy to see Bruce Sutter inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I love Bruce. He was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. His induction speech indicated that; reading the transcript was like a who’s who for good guys in baseball.

I’m at a time in my life where I don’t miss playing baseball any more, but I do miss going to the ball park every day. I miss seeing all the special people that do the jobs off the field, the people that make a baseball player’s job easier as you go through the long season. So to traveling secretaries Bill Acree and CJ Cherre, clubhouse guys Yosh Kawano, Butch Yakeman, Buddy Bates, Casey Stephensen, trainers Tony Garofalo, Gene Geiselman, Dave Pursley, Jeff Porter, Doctors Stan London and Joe Chandler, and to all the visiting clubbies, I’m truly grateful for all that you’ve done. You guys were more important to my career than anyone will ever know. I’d like to say thank you to all my Major League coaches and managers. Without you, all this wouldn’t have been possible.

Its nice to see my dad got a shout out, but also Bill Acree (one of the most dependable guys I know – throughout the years he’s done a lot for us), Jeff Porter, and of course Dave Pursley. I grew up around these guys, and they devoted large portions of their lives to the Braves. Good to know that their (largely unseen) efforts are appreciated.