Where Are They Now?
- Updated: August 26, 2020
(A former SoCal Little League standout now stars on the Washington Nationals. He led that team to win the 2019 World Series. Photo courtesy of Major League Baseball.)
It is time to bring back the popular segment within CaliSports News’ Little League articles called, Where Are They Now? Much happened since last year, and CSN shall provide updates. As such, this article serves as the first in a series of hopefully weekly segments spotlighting former stars of Little League in Southern California. We shall start with focus on Major League Baseball.
The Washington Nationals won last year’s World Series, and that team’s ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg got voted as the series’ most valuable player. 32-year-old Strasburg grew up in San Diego County, and played Little League in its suburb of Santee. That city resides within California District 41. According to that district’s Chief Umpire Steve Crane, when Strasburg played Little League, Santee contained three leagues. Strasburg starred at Santee American. Since then, his former league changed its name to West Hills Little League. Crane recalls the superstar pitcher.
A Little League umpire remembers him.
“Yes, I umpired Stephen back in the day,” Crane told CSN. “My son grew up with him. And, the rumors hold true. Stephen whined and threw fits on the mound. He was not yet anything similar to the humble and gracious young man we watched on the night he won the World Series MVP.”
(Stephen Strasburg pitched for San Diego State University. Photo courtesy of SDSU.)
Incidentally, Crane got involved with Little League 30 years ago, when that veteran umpire’s oldest daughter first joined. During the three decades since then, Crane served as Santee’s Santana National Little League president for seven years, that league’s umpire-in-chief for five, and as district chief ump for seven. He even volunteered as a worker in the snack bar, and as a player representative. Some of his roles overlapped. However, Crane himself never played.
“I was a street kid, and at age 10, I was doing drugs instead,” Crane told CSN. “So, I believe in the mission of Little League, and if I can keep even one kid from doing what I did, I’m happy.”
Where is that ace UCLA pitcher now?
Speaking of the major leagues, superstar pitcher Gerrit Cole, whose Houston Astros lost to Strasburg’s Nationals in the World Series, made history during the off-season. After finishing second in the voting for the American League’s 2019 Cy Young Award, Cole became the highest-paid player in baseball history. The 29-year-old signed with the New York Yankees a lucrative new contract that averages a whopping $36 million per year. That surely pays a few utility bills.
(Gerrit Cole rocks his Tustin Western Little League uniform. Photo courtesy of ESPN.)
Like Strasburg, Cole grew up in Southern California. Orange County served as Cole’s childhood home. The youngster played at Tustin Western Little League in N. Tustin, and later starred at UCLA. He helped lead the Bruins to the 2010 NCAA finals. Whereas, Strasburg played his own college ball for the San Diego State University Aztecs. I will present more about current and past Bruins and Aztecs in upcoming articles. You do not want to miss those. Until then, stay tuned !!
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Finally, CaliSports News thanks everyone that shares our articles. Teamwork makes the dream work. On that note, CSN happily reports that at least three different Little Leagues each shared last week’s, Southern California Little League: “Season Over!”, on their Facebook page. Big thanks to Chula Vista’s Eastlake and Park View Little Leagues, and to Bonita’s Sweetwater Valley Little League. In addition, thank you as well to California District 42 for doing the same.
And with that, we conclude this year’s initial installment of Where Are They Now? More such segments will follow. Until then, congratulations to Strasburg and Cole !! Let’s Go SoCal !!
Stay with CaliSportsNews.com, Southern California’s undisputed leader in Little League coverage, as we keep you up-to-date on all things SoCal sports! All Cali, All the time!
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