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LaRoche putting team together for NBC World Series
Fort Scott High School (Kan.) graduate and retired Major League Baseball player Adam LaRoche and Wichita Wingnuts part-owner Nate Robinson are putting together a team of former MLB All-Stars and entering it in the National Baseball Congress World Series, which takes place in Wichita July 29-Aug. 13.
"I put out a feeler and I was blown away at the response," LaRoche told the Wichita Eagle. "I picture this being more of a backyard, group-of-guys get-together to go have a lot of fun and compete. Kind of bring back that feeling that we all had in high school and college and the minor leagues, when everybody is truly pulling in the same direction and pulling for each other and, win or lose, just enjoying it and having a good time."
The team, known at least for the moment as the Kansas Stars, takes the field for their first contest at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, which is the second week of pool play at the tourney. LaRoche's team plays again on Monday, Aug. 8 and Wednesday, Aug. 10, both at 7 p.m.
"I started calling some of the former (Detroit) Tigers that I played with, and then a guy would call another guy," Robertson told the Eagle. "Most recently, Roger Clemens is going to be one of our pitchers and Josh Beckett reached out to him. (The roster) just kind of got some legs to it, and here we are."
The 25-man roster includes Clemens, a 53-year-old seven-time Cy Young Award winner and 11-time Major League All-Star. The only player who didn't reach the big leagues was Clemens' son, Koby.
Chipper Jones, a former LaRoche teammate on the Atlanta Braves and a good friend, agreed to play later in the week. The roster was initially announced Sunday night on the sportscast of KWCH-TV in Wichita.
The roster also includes Rick Ankiel, J.D. Drew, Adam Everett, Justin Germano, Koyie Hill, Tim Hudson, Brandon Inge, Jason Isringhausen, Ryan Kohlmeier, Ryan Langerhans, Jayson Nix, Laynce Nix, Pete Orr, Roy Oswalt, Brad Penny, Ben Sheets, Brett Tomko, Dan Uggla, Barry Wesson and Jack Wilson.
Eleven of those players are former All-Stars who made those teams a total of 36 times.
NBC World Series qualifiers are typically teams whose rosters are filled with college players. The players are amateurs but the teams do earn prize money. Robertson has said that if the Stars win the tournament, they'll donate the prize money to charity.
Other pros have played in the tournament. Adam's brother, Andy, played with Robertson in last year's series for an NBC Alumni team then signed with the Wingnuts for the remainder of the season.
According to a report posted by KWCH on its web site Monday, the team is looking to add at least two more pitchers, as the goal for most of them is to pitch three innings.
"I've heard Roger is going to come in here and try to throw five," Robertson said. "I guess he's still a machine."