Happy Saturday!

I'm writing from a tiny café in Paris.

The espresso is strong, the pastries are dangerous, and my wife keeps reminding me we're supposed to be sightseeing—not checking baseball scores.

Yep.

50+ years following this game has taught me one thing: Baseball has a way of finding you.

All-Star Week is over.

Some game Tuesday night.

I guess.

If you love pitching. But a shutout?

Zzzz.

Trade deadline watch has begun.

Brace yourselves.

Dee Strange-Gordon was easy to underestimate.

Small.

Undersized.

Built more like a point guard than a major-league infielder.

Basketball was his first love.

But baseball was the family business.

His father, Tom “Flash” Gordon, pitched 21 seasons in the majors.

Dee was drafted by the Dodgers in 2008, became one of their top prospects, and reached the big leagues three years later.

His game was simple.

Get on base.

Run.

Make the defense nervous.

In 2014, he hit .289, led the majors with 64 stolen bases, and made the All-Star team.

A year later, after being traded to Miami, he won the National League batting title with a .333 average and stole another 58 bases.

But by 2022, after bouncing through several organizations, Gordon knew it was over.

He was hitting .305 for Washington when he asked for his release.

He didn’t hang around waiting for one more call.

Gordon was done with baseball.

His second act would take him in an entirely different direction.

He became a farmer.

A farmer?

Gordon grew up in an agricultural community in central Florida.

As his baseball career wound down, he began thinking about what he could build that would last—and something his children could one day inherit.

He turned to hydroponics, a method of growing crops in nutrient-rich water instead of soil.

Gordon created Black Sheep Farms, a 40-acre operation near the community where he grew up.

The farm produces leafy greens for local schools, hospitals, and businesses.

But Gordon isn’t only growing vegetables.

He’s creating jobs.

Helping families.

And building baseball and basketball programs so local kids have an affordable place to play.

Baseball gave Gordon a platform.

Now he’s using it to build something bigger..

“I’m going to be a human for way longer than I’m a baseball player.”

Want to leave the ballpark with a baseball?

Here’s how to improve your odds.

1. Get there early.

The first 30 minutes after the gates open are usually your best shot.

Fewer fans.

More batting practice.

More baseballs.

2. Pick the right field.

Right-handed hitters tend to pull balls toward left field.

Lefties usually send them toward right.

Watch who’s hitting and position yourself accordingly.

3. Stay mobile.

Don’t get married to one seat.

The best ballhawks are constantly adjusting.

4. Watch the ball—not the swing.

The sooner you pick up its flight, the better your chance of getting underneath it before everyone else reacts.

And bring a glove.

Your bare hand is no match for a baseball traveling toward you at highway speed.

Bonus: Keep an eye on the outfielders during warmups.

If a ball dies on the warning track or kicks off the wall, some players will flip it into the stands.

A polite “please” and “thank you” can go a long way.

A little planning can be the difference between going home with a souvenir…

Or another story about the one that got away.

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