The phrase from a long time ago started with the Old Yankee Stadium 🏟 being called the House 🏠 that Ruth Built. Now, Babe Ruth didn’t actually ” build ” Yankee Stadium but I loved the reference so over the years, I added to it.
Welcome to Lucas Oil Stadium, the House that Peyton Manning built and Welcome to Safeco Field, the House that Ken Griffey Junior built.
Well, Joe Goddard, the man who I introduce at every home game that I announce for the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears 🐻, as the Legendary Joe Goddard actually built a Field for his High School.
Joe Goddard is a living legend and I was blessed to try to pen 🖊 his story
Thanks to Chris Graham at the Augusta Free Press and in the link above, the local Newspaper 📰 in Beckley, West Virginia, this story was read across an entire region.
It has been nothing short of a privilege to soak in the thoughts of Joe Goddard over the past decade. Each Spring, Goddard and I serve as the little voices in the ear of Skipper Lawrence Nesselrodt as he leads our Golden Bears. Goddard helps with the X’s and O’s while I assist with the things that take place outside of the chalked lines.
When Joe first told me the story about turning down an opportunity to continue his professional Baseball career within the San Diego Padres organization, I hung on every word.
Returning to West Virginia to teach and Coach was the better fit. The problem was the School didn’t have a Baseball field at the time. Not to worry, Joe fired up his tractor and started to plow down some acreage. He had his little Girl with him at the time so Joe had to get creative while he built his field. Taking a rope, Joe tied a sled that was dragged behind him and Father 👨 and Daughter spent quality time together ❤.
That little Girl 👧, is all growed up now and has turned out just fine. She calls Joe, Dad and her patients call her Doctor !
The Link :
https://augustafreepress.com/news/joe-goddard-literally-built-this-field-of-dreams/
Joe Goddard is a name that will appear numerous times in the Baseball ⚾️ portion of our upcoming Book !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 