STRAY CORRADO’S HALL OF FAME SPEECH

Brian Mazureks’ Introduction Speech for John “Stray” Corrado:

John “Stray” Corrado, the Mid-West Winter League’s (MWWL) Commissioner/Web Master and owner of the Chicago Demolition from the beginning.  Stray is the heart and soul of the MWWL that keeps it strong, fresh, and exciting.  Through continuous improvements and “ego-free” input accepted by others, the MWWL has flourished under his leadership.  He routinely gets compliments from new team owners about how great of a league the MWWL is and that is a direct reflection of the effort and love he puts into running it.

Through the years there have been a few issues that have popped up that potentially could have derailed the MWWL, but Stray always approached the issues with logic and soundness and when needed sought out opinions to help him.  Anything to keep the integrity of the league sound.

The Demolition, by the way, has a franchise history record of 1756 – 1267 for a winning percentage of .581. Since the league’s inception in 1970, the Demolition have won six pennants and three World Series titles with Stray being named A.L. Manager of the Year six times.

Please welcome the Hall of Fame’s newest member John “Stray” Corrado.

John “Stray” Corrados’ Speech:

I’ve stood at this podium & had the honor to introduce the first player inducted into the Mid-West Winter League Hall of Fame – Jim Palmer. I was so much more comfortable with that introduction than I will be with my speech because I felt the recipient to be far more worthy of induction than myself.
So my emotions as of right now almost rival my feeling of gratitude – almost.

As Commissioner if we’re lucky, we get a handful of moments when we don’t have to wonder if we made the League proud. We don’t have to ask; we just know. I want to thank all the members of the Mid-West Winter League for giving me one of those moments today. It’s one of the many things for which I need to thank everyone past & present.
I fell in love with baseball early in my life, but the reason that I have everything that I hold dear is because of how much baseball has loved me back. I’m thrilled, humbled & quite terrified to be honest standing in front of you today. The Mid-West Winter League has not only given me much, it has taught me much as well. It’s not exactly what the great actor James Earl Jones said when he played Terrance Mann in the movie Field of Dreams, but this is pretty close with a Mid-West Winter League twist.

“People will come, Stray,  they’ll come to the MWWL for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up in your E-Mail not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive through Facebook as innocent as children; longing for the past they once so loved. Of course, we won’t mind if you join, I say. It’s only $35 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and childhood memories they want. And they’ll play the games, and dream the dreams of their youth. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Stray. The one constant through all the years, Stray, has been the Mid-West Winter League. Time has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But the Mid-West Baseball League has made memories of time gone by. This game: it’s a part of our past, Stray. It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh… people will come Stray. People will most definitely come.”

With that said, I’ve had people come & people go as Commissioner. I can’t thank everyone personally, but yet I can thank a few who have made this journey a great experience. I’ve grown up in front of you, with you and together we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, but what is so clear to me standing here today is that you have given me compassion, understanding, and friendship – more than I expected, many times more than I deserved.

So for my Thank You’s.

I need to start with Brian (MIZ) Mazurek of the Mexico City Chihuahuas (Quebec City Le Blue). You’ve been the best friend anyone could ever have. You check in on me daily and we talk baseball 90% of the time, either MWBL, MWWL, Little League or MLB – we’re always talking ball. Didn’t change much in the past 40 years either. 40 years ago we’d be hanging out in my mom’s garage playing a game of baseball we created with a deck of cards. 15 Minutes later we’d be playing wiffle ball down the block, with Mike, Kevin, John, Mikey, Brian B, Sergio & whoever else we could get to play a game. Without you Miz I am not sure where I would be today. You’re my best friend & over time I think we realized that we are truly brothers, just as much as best friends. I enjoyed the past 40 years with you, and I look forward to the next 40 just as much.

Next up is Stacy Corrado – my beautiful wife. She’s my best girl! She supports me with my passion, this game we call Baseball. Though there are times when I am sure she is sick of listening or watching a game, she’s right there next to me on the couch, doing just that – watching or listening. She treats me like I am a King, and when I am with her I feel like a million bucks. A guy couldn’t ask for more. She supports me in everything I do. She deals with me when I am at my highest and lowest and she’s always a steady constant in my life. Stacy brought religion into my life, and without that, I am not sure I’d be as level of a person as I am now. The religion changed me, my life & my outlook towards others. I’m a much better person now than I was before I met & fell in love with Stacy. I’ve only had 9 years in as your man, but I will continue to love, cherish & stand next to you, arm in arm, & tell you how proud I am to have you as my girl. I love you.

Steve Cutler – what can I say about my Deputy Commissioner for so many years? (17 Years of League Play). You helped me in so many ways, talking me down from doing something drastic, helping me set up the League, creating the League Guide – and handling many of the troubles along the way. I was very sad the day you departed the league & I hope that one day you will come back & be part of the Mid-West Winter League once again. Thanks for everything along the way.

Steven Cornfield – the Mid-West Winter League (MWBL too) lead computer engineer. You helped the League grow to one of the best APBA/BBW leagues in the country (If not the best). From being a 16-year-old kid who wanted to learn programming, to a Michigan State graduate, to becoming a great engineer for General Mills working in Minneapolis – you’ve come a long way! It was a great ride for the Mid-West Winter League as you developed & worked the databases into a great functional website. You have always been there for me, the league, and have never once left me out to dry. I thank you for your commitment to the League, your dedication & your vision in making the MWWL – what it is today.

Some of my players from my Chicago Demolition need a mention here as well. Growing up watching these players molded my young mind about how players should play the game. I get to (Thanks to this great game APBA / BBW) recreate those visions of these players in my mind. Joe Morgan, Willie Stargell, Thurman Munson, Wade Boggs, Vida Blue, J.R. Richard, Orel Hershiser, Tommy John, Dave Stewart, Roger Clemens, Dennis Eckersley – the list could go on & on. These are the names of my childhood and young adulthood & as we all grow older & play more seasons, names that will be of my adulthood. This game (APBA / BBW) brings back the visions of these players & the great careers they have had, I look forward to many more years ahead for the Mid-West Winter League.
Baseball holds the distinguished honor of being America’s original pastime. It holds the honor of capturing my heart as a little boy, teaching me lessons in life & about watching people come in & out of your life, but most importantly about friendship. These people mentioned above are part of my passion for this game and part of my reason for being here before you today. This honor today leaves me deeply humbled.

Thank you,

Stray Corrado