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There are those, living and dead, who have made a significant contribution to baseball. There are likewise those who have, in their manner, served as shining examples of faith. And then there are some who’ve done both. October begins on the feast of St. Thérèse de Lisieux and ends on All Hallows’ Eve, with several significant feasts in those days between. All of us know that it’s likewise the month when the baseball season reaches its climactic conclusion, thus making it fitting to ask: If Heaven were to field its own baseball team, comprised of faith-filled men who knew the game inside and out, who would make that roster? I’d start by making Pope Leo XIV the manager. The Chicago native, a lifelong White Sox fan, is currently managing the Church, which makes him a shoo-in to set the batting order of this rather ego-less clubhouse. And here would be the lineup I’d recommend: Blessed Michael J. McGivney The founder of the Knights of Columbus actually played baseball himself, at least once. It’s recorded that he played left field during a game between seminarians from Connecticut and New York in May 1872, and that he remained interested in the sport throughout the years of his vocation. He saw baseball as a means to help Catholic immigrants assimilate to life in a country where hostility toward Catholics was commonplace, and he organized games during parish picnics. His wisdom and vision identified a fondness for baseball as a common ground that could be shared between fellow countrymen, Catholic or not. The Knights of Columbus, by itself, could field an all-star assembly of baseball greats which would include Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, John McGraw, Connie Mack, Stan Musial, Johnny Evers, Ron Guidry, Hughie Jennings, Harry Heilmann, Gil Hodges, Willie Keeler, Nap Lajoie, Vin Scully and Mike Piazza. Other notable Knights players include Ed Walsh, Mike Sweeney, Bill Freehan, , Trevor Williams and Bill Coughlin. Joe DiMaggio himself never joined the Knights’ ranks, but his son did. For years, rumors have even circulated that Blessed Michael McGivney could eventually be named the patron of America’s pastime. Brother Mathias Boutlier This Xaverian priest once served as a disciplinarian and coach at the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys in Baltimore. His most famous pupil was 7 years old when he was given over to the care of St. Mary’s: George Herman “Babe” Ruth. One can only imagine the patience that handling young Babe Ruth’s behavior must’ve taken. It was Brother Mathias who introduced Ruth to baseball. “He was the father I needed,” Ruth wrote of him in his autobiography. Ruth himself, though he gave a full confession near the end of his life, will be sitting this game out, to have some time to reflect upon his hard-partying ways throughout his playing career. But Brother Mathias remains an example of the impact that a father-figure can have, regardless of whether he happens to be a biological father, and his greatest contribution to the game is the molding of its greatest player. Every team needs that guy who’ll lighten the mood. A loving sense of humor is, in fact, a sign of spiritual maturity. The somewhat-undersized Yankees catcher who’d quipped that “nobody goes there anymore because it’s too crowded” also happened to be a devout Catholic. Berra was known to consistently attend Mass, even on playing days, and eagerly took part whenever a priest visited the team’s clubhouse. By all reports, he remained loyal to his wife, Carmen, despite all the temptations that came with being a Yankee during the era of Mickey Mantle’s playing days. When standing before the Lord, he probably won’t be saying, “We made too many wrong mistakes.” Stan “the Man” Musial This Cardinals legend’s inclusion comes at the recommendation of a holy friend: Pope St. John Paul II. It was in the 1960s that Musial paid a visit to Communist-ruled Poland, striving to learn more about what prosperous Polish-Americans, such as himself, could do to aid their ancestral homeland. Musial, a devout Catholic, first met the Bishop of Krakow, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, during that visit. They remained in touch. Pope John Paul II included St. Louis among his 1999 U.S. visit stops, reportedly at Musial’s urging. Musial didn’t shy away from offering his gift of friendship to those among the clergy. Roberto Clemente This Pirates legend’s name has become synonymous with humanitarian work efforts. Major League Baseball’s annual award for the players who demonstrate social concern is, in fact, named in Clemente’s honor. Clemente was also a devout Catholic. It was in 1972 that a devastating earthquake struck Nicaragua. Clemente didn’t hesitate to board a chartered flight, meant to deliver supplies there for emergency relief. Tragically, that plane crashed off the coast of his native Puerto Rico’s Isla Verde, cutting his life short at the age of 38, yet leaving all of us with the remarkable exemplification of his commitment to Catholic Social Teaching. Rumors circulated in 2017 that Clemente’s cause for canonization might be opened. Such whispers, thus far, haven’t moved beyond speculation — yet. The famed announcer for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers was no stranger to personal tragedy. He was only 5 when his father died. His first wife, Joan, died of an accidental medical overdose in 1972. His eldest son, Michael, died in a helicopter crash in 1994. Rather than being embittered and turning away from God in the wake of these tragedies, he remained steadfast, relying upon his faith as an anchor. His career as a commentator, spanning almost seven decades, began under the ownership of Catholic philanthropist Walter O’Malley, the man best known for relocating the franchise to Los Angeles. Among the players he befriended over those years was Gil Hodges, who could’ve likewise made this roster, a Rosary warrior who stood by teammate Jackie Robinson’s side in 1947. In 2016, Scully bid farewell to the Dodgers with these words: “May God give you, for every storm, a rainbow; for every tear, a smile; for every care, a promise; and a blessing in each trial.” Brooks Robinson Most of those in this lineup were cradle Catholics. This Orioles Hall of Famer and Roberto Clemente Award recipient was raised Methodist. He first met flight attendant Connie Butcher, a Catholic, during a team flight in 1959, being immediately smitten with her. They married in 1960. It was after their son had questioned why Dad went to a different church than the rest of the family each Sunday that he turned to Monsignor Martin Schwalenberg, Jr., the Orioles’ chaplain, and a personal friend, to learn more. He entered the Church in 1970 so that his family could worship together, ultimately becoming a devout Catholic, and never looking back for the remainder of his life. Trevor Williams It was in recent memory that the Los Angeles Dodgers chose to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, cross-dressers notorious for their mockery of the Faith, for their annual “Pride Night” in June 2023. Williams, a pitcher for the Nationals and a devout Catholic, was among the most outspoken players against this Dodgers’ organizational decision. In our own current day, when political correctness continuously seeks to push the boundaries of decency, furthermore, our faith and culture are as in need of courageous witness as ever. Williams, the only active player on this list, chose to be that man. Grant Desme A minor league player who made national news, just once, in January 2010. Desme, who’d been drafted by the Oakland A’s, was considered to be among baseball’s top prospects when he suddenly announced his retirement from the game at the age of 23. The reason for his abrupt retirement was that he wanted to discern a call to the priesthood. He traded his uniform for a white habit and became a novice in the Norbertine Order. It was after several years of prayer and discernment that Desme ultimately concluded that he was called to marriage and the raising of a family, rather than the priesthood. But by then, he’d already sacrificed the peak years of his athletic career. It’s rare for any young man to realize that “having it all,” according to worldly prospects, will never be enough. I was among those who noted Desme’s decision, back in 2010, finding myself inspired by his conviction. It was by the end of that very year, after numerous such inspirations, that I resolved to become a Catholic myself. Play ball! And may our great traditions continue to produce figures whose ultimate goal it is to safely reach Home.
