Running and Writing

Writing and running.

Running and writing.

My mind is full of words and sayings that are helping to continue to push me ever forward…

My personality is such that I can’t help but set goals, push to reach them, and then dream of bigger and greatest things.

They say I’m a dreamer, but I’m the only one…” (John Lennon)

Good is the enemy of great.” (Jim Collins)

Good enough, never is.” (Debbi Fields)

In just over fifteen weeks, I will be running the Pittsburgh Marathon (with my son Ryan).

Continue reading “Running and Writing”
Advertisement

The Best Books I Read in 2022

I love to read. My goal (a modest goal to some and an impossible goal for others) is to read 30 books each year. I figure that two books a month (and then a few more) is reasonable.

In 2022, I actually made it to 45 books, but, then again, well, a whole collection weren’t all that scholarly (as you’ll soon see).

Here, now, are the books I most enjoyed in 2022:

Continue reading “The Best Books I Read in 2022”

Special Preview: From Compton to the Bronx

I am thrilled to share this excerpt from my collaboration with Roy White on his autobiography,

From Compton to the Bronx.

This book will be released in April 2023, but is now available for pre-order.

***

Initial reviews for this book have been tremendously positive. Here is one:

“Roy White is as dignified a Yankee as there has ever been, one of the many reasons a generation of fans (myself included) grew up imitating his stance.

Paul Semendinger does a masterful job capturing the essence of the great left fielder. This is a must-read about the most underrated Yankee of all time.”

Ian O’Connor, Four-time New York Times bestselling author of “The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter”

Continue reading “Special Preview: From Compton to the Bronx”

The New Books Network Podcast Featuring “The Least Among Them”

***

I was recently interviewed on the New Books Network Podcast to discuss The Least Among Them.

You can listen to this interview below.

From the site:

The Least Among Them: 29 Players, Their Brief Moments in the Big Leagues, and a Unique History of the New York Yankees (Artemesia, 2021) is a most special baseball book that looks at the New York Yankees history in an original, unique, and never before written manner. Throughout their history, the New York Yankees have been defined by the legends and the successes of their most famous players. But, as part of their long history, the Yankees have also fielded players that have become lost to history. This book is those players’ story, telling the unique histories of the men whose entire major league baseball career lasted but a single game with that game being played as a New York Yankee. While these players may be forgotten, their stories are compelling. Filled with a unique Yankee history, single game stats, and a love of baseball, The Least Among Them tells the story of baseball’s most successful franchise in an entirely new way.

https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-least-among-them

Closing and Opening Doors To God

On July 11, 2021, I was asked to deliver the sermon at Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

The following is the transcript of my sermon.

***

God asks a lot of us.  All the time.  He wants us to be reverent.

He wants us to love him.

He loves us…

He asks us to pray.  He even had Jesus teach us how to pray.

God wants us to follow the Golden Rule.

He wants us to be kind, to be generous, to love… to love one another as he loves us. 

He asks us to honor our mothers and fathers, to not lust, or want, or use his name in vain.

Or take false idols.

Or to kill.

He asks a lot of us.

Because he loves us.

Continue reading “Closing and Opening Doors To God”

One Last Shot – Season 3, Post 2: My Spring Training

(Note: This article can also be found on Start Spreading The News.)

***

Opening Day is a month, a week, and a day away. That’s my Opening Day. The day my baseball season begins.

In 2019, after not pitching in any competitive baseball game for over 34 years, I made a comeback as the old guy, a 50+-year-old pitcher, in a highly competitive wood bat 35-year-old + baseball league. I pitched again last year.

The upcoming 2021 season will be my third.

After proving to myself that I can hold my own on the mound, and even pitch complete nine inning games, I am no longer content with just being able to do that.

Now I want to win.

Continue reading “One Last Shot – Season 3, Post 2: My Spring Training”

One Last Shot – Season 3, Post 1: This Time It’s For Real

(This post can also be found on my Yankees blog Start Spreading the News.)

January 2021

***

This time it’s for real!

…or so I tell myself.

Yes. For goodness sake, this time it is for real.

This coming season, the 2021 season, will be mine. This will be my chance to shine. To pitch well. To win. Often.

And I have a plan to make sure it happens.

Continue reading “One Last Shot – Season 3, Post 1: This Time It’s For Real”