School's out

 

I went for a walk around 11 a.m. today. As I was on my way back home, the kids from the elementary school a couple blocks from me were getting out. It was a half day as is customary during the final week of school.

 

It's a great time of year. I don't need kids running down the block at noon to remind me how much I like this time of year. I have a job connected to the school year and that has been the case for more than 40 years.

 

If you had told me the night I graduated from high school that I would be celebrating the end of the school year more than 40 years later, I don't know what my reaction would be. Surprise, sure. I also might have looked for the nearest bridge.

 

For sure I am thrilled I've hit the easy season. No full slate of high school and college sports events, no late hours, no more coaches, no more parents, no more teachers' dirty looks.

 

To celebrate I have compiled an All-School team, just to rejoice over what we're all leaving behind for a couple months. I found some MLB names that can be connected to school and have somebody for every position.

 

The only rules are that I can't use the same word reference twice and that I must have the player's card in my collection. I didn't set up a batting order because no time. Let's just go position-by-position.

 

 

First base: Art Howe

 

The only player on this team in which the first name is the school reference.

 

Art class was always weird, often with weird teachers. I probably would appreciate it more now but most years I really disliked going.

 

 

Second base: Rod Booker

 

Those ever-present books. I'm just guessing but I'll bet today's students don't have to carry around five textbooks at a time from class-to-class because they couldn't figure out how to schedule lunch before 1:30. 

 

 

Shortstop: Dave Chalk

 

The first player I thought of for this exercise. Is chalk even used in school anymore? Does any kid still experience the joy of being called on by the teacher to go outside to pound erasers?

 

 

Third base: Junior Caminero

 

I may have chosen this card so I could place the Heritage card next to the '77 original in case you want to pick apart the differences. 

 

Here is my ranking of high school's four classes:

 

1. Senior year

2. Junior year

3. Sophomore year

4. Freshman year

 

That's universal, right?

 

 

Catcher: Jim French

 

You've got to hand it to vintage sets, they made sure you knew someone was a catcher. Jim French has three solo Topps cards. He's in a catcher's crouch in every one.

 

French class is tied with certain math classes for the most times I hid behind the student in front of me in hopes I wouldn't get called on.

 

 

Left field: Jimmie Hall

 

This outfield is three center fielders so I had to make some decisions.

 

 

Center field: Rowland Office

 

A school hallway is where kids experience a little freedom -- unless you're walking down the hallway after being sent to the office.

 

 

Right field: Gus Bell

 

There were lots of choices for Hall and Bell. Gus Bell is a veteran of these themed teams here on NOC. He was part of the All-Bell team for one of my Christmas posts.

 

 

Pitcher: Bob Friend

 

The team is light on pitching. I had to combine starters and relievers to come up with a five-man rotation. There are others, but they appear on really old cards that I don't have ("Pete Appleton" for example).

 

School is when friends are super important.

 

 

Pitcher: Bob Locker

 

Anybody else get freaked out at the start of the school year about their locker combination?

 

 

Pitcher: Mike Schooler

 

The whole damn building right there in the name.

 

 

Pitcher: Jesse English

 

English has this one 2010 Topps card and Chrome card from the same year, a Bowman card from six years prior and a few minor league cards (of which I have one). Please tell me he's an English teacher now.

 

 

Pitcher: Dan Quisenberry

 

"Quiz" gets on the team based on his nickname. Kind of sneaky, just like those pop quizzes.

 

All right, that's enough about school for a time when we're supposed to be forgetting about it. But I'm certainly not doing this at the start of the school year.

 

Enjoy your summer.