Nanner
09-18-2006, 02:56 PM
......up at the U of Maine.
This is such a fantastic article. Sounds like it was a great ceremony! :thumbsup:
(The article's from the U of Maine paper.)
Bordick a player, man for the ages
Baseball legend's No. 3 retired in emotional ceremony
Matthew Conyers
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Maine Sports
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper322/stills/ov6oiec5.jpg
Media Credit: laura giorgio
Bordick salutes the UMaine faithful on hand.
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper322/stills/uu7f0c1j.jpg
Media Credit: laura giorgio
Mike Bordick and legendary coach John Winkin embrace during yesterday's festivities.
ORONO - According to former University of Maine baseball manager Dr. John Winkin, there was always something that set Winterport native and baseball purist Mike Bordick apart, and it wasn't just his near-immortal glove. No, in Winkin's eyes it was more than what the ageless Bordick brought to the diamond. For Winkin and so many others who have encountered the 14-year Major League Baseball shortstop and former UMaine standout, what they will remember is the way he carried himself.
Saturday that spirit and respect was honored when UMaine forever retired Bordick's number among the program's greatest players. Bordick, who wore No. 3, joins his college manager Winkin, manager Jack Butterfield and former pitcher Bill Swift. In an emotional presentation, both Winkin and Bordick addressed the modest crowd with President Robert Kennedy and athletic director Blake James standing by their side at home plate. The presentation, which began with current Black Bear manager Steve Trimper introducing Winkin, also featured several other notable alumni. Adorning the third base dugout were, among others, Jack Leggett, Ed Flaherty, Bob Whalen, Mike Collar, Mike MacDonald and just-graduated alum Scott Robinson. Despite the attendance of such greats, the day was largely about Bordick and honoring his legacy.
"Mike epitomizes what a local person can do if they have the will and heart and the energy to work hard for what they want," said Winkin. "I have the utmost respect for him, he's an unbelievable human being. No one worked as hard as Mike and worked as hard to stay there."
Bordick attended Leroy Smith Elementary School in Winterport and high school at Hampden Academy in Hampden.
The praise didn't stop there. President Kennedy went on to say that Bordick represents all that is good and right about the university.
"Mike is very special to the university," said Kennedy. "He signifies what we strive for at UMaine. He honestly shows that the sky is the limit for anyone who works hard enough."
Clearly touched by the outpouring of support, Bordick addressed the crowd after a brief speech by Winkin.
"This is an amazing honor," said Bordick. "To have my jersey retired with two of the greatest managers in college baseball and Bill Swift, who was one of the best, is something I truly appreciate. It's an amazing honor to be put in this company."
Beginning to get teary eyed, Bordick thanked not only the program but also his teammates.
"This wasn't anything I did," said Bordick. "This is because of the school and people who gave me the opportunity to not only play baseball but also get an education and become the man who I would end up being. I am forever in debt."
"This weekend is so special. I am having a great time being around all the current players, the older players and really old players."
Composing himself after briefly tearing up, Bordick credited the University for helping to give him the wisdom he needed in life.
"I learned things here that I will pass on to my kids and the kids I coach," said Bordick. "These are special people and this is a very, very special place."
For Bordick the day meant even more after having just become a graduate of the University after 20 years this spring.
The accomplishment was not lost on Winkin, who said Bordick made a promise to him that he would someday receive his diploma from UMaine after he departed for the majors in 86.
"A promise made is a promise kept with Mike," said Winkin. "He is a class act, on and off the field."
After leaving the Black Bears and Orono, Bordick went on to play for Oakland, Baltimore, the New York Mets and Toronto during his 14-year major league career. Bordick was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 11, 1990 with the Athletics. It was a career that would not be defined by the bat but rather by one of the smoothest gloves in the last 15 years. Wearing his work on his uniform, Bordick made a career of flinging himself to the right and diving to the left to stop any groundball hit his way. By making unbelievable plays routine, Bordick earned his right to be discussed in the same breath as other '90s defensive wizards like Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel. However, it wasn't until 2002 that Bordick earned his spot among the game's highly regarded field generals. In the summer of 2002, Bordick set a major-league record with 428 straight chances without an error. The achievement broke the mark previously set by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1990. It was also Bordick who eventually forced the Orioles to move Ripken Jr. from short to third base. Later that season, Bordick set another MLB record with his 102nd consecutive errorless game at shortstop in a game against the Red Sox.
The year even ended with Bordick caught up in a little controversy. After going 110 games and 543 chances without an error at shortstop, Bordick saw the gold glove go to Alex Rodriguez, who in 2002 had 10 errors.
"Obviously the first thing you think of when you think of Mike's career is that errorless streak and him moving Cal Ripken from shortstop," said Trimper. "But he was so much more than that and it shows with him coming back to get his degree. He laid the groundwork for this program."
The right-handed defensive specialist completed his career with a .260 batting average, 91 homeruns and 626 RBIs. His best offensive year came in 2000 when he batted .297 with Baltimore and .260 with the New York Mets, while garnering 176 hits, 20 homeruns and 70 RBIs. The career numbers came the same year Bordick made both his lone All-Star and World Series appearances.
Trimper was delighted that his current players were able to interact with such a success story.
"It's a great thing when you get a turnout like this and have all these players exposed to someone who is just the definition of hard work," said Trimper.
While at UMaine Bordick served as a catalyst for the '84 and '86 teams that made the College World Series and eventually fell in back-to-back games.
"The years we went to the World Series in '84 and '86 really stand out as some of my best memories here obviously, but it's hard to really pinpoint the absolute best," said Bordick. "To go through that with these players was a great experience. We really showed a common bond. We were as close to a fraternity as you could get. We cared about each other."
After moving on from Orono, Bordick said most of the players on those teams did their best to stay in contact.
"Whenever we could meet we would, whether it be at a golfing tournament or tributes," said Bordick. "I have stayed in close contact with more than a couple guys on the team."
On a personal level, Bordick left UMaine with the second highest hit total in school history, 90, and one of the best fielding percentages.
All this is even more special when one realizes that Winkin almost missed out on recruiting Bordick.
"I went to see another player," laughs Winkin when recalling Bordick's beginnings as a Black Bear.
On a day that paid tribute to not only Bordick but to the UMaine baseball program, it was clear that both were lucky to find each other.
"This weekend was an eye opener for me as to how many people contribute to UMaine baseball and to all the energy that goes into success," said current Black Bear pitcher Greg Norton. "The people in charge of bringing this program to where it is today shared a lot with the team, and it was inspiring and humbling at the same time."
© 2006 The Maine Campus Online
This is such a fantastic article. Sounds like it was a great ceremony! :thumbsup:
(The article's from the U of Maine paper.)
Bordick a player, man for the ages
Baseball legend's No. 3 retired in emotional ceremony
Matthew Conyers
Issue date: 9/18/06 Section: Maine Sports
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper322/stills/ov6oiec5.jpg
Media Credit: laura giorgio
Bordick salutes the UMaine faithful on hand.
http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper322/stills/uu7f0c1j.jpg
Media Credit: laura giorgio
Mike Bordick and legendary coach John Winkin embrace during yesterday's festivities.
ORONO - According to former University of Maine baseball manager Dr. John Winkin, there was always something that set Winterport native and baseball purist Mike Bordick apart, and it wasn't just his near-immortal glove. No, in Winkin's eyes it was more than what the ageless Bordick brought to the diamond. For Winkin and so many others who have encountered the 14-year Major League Baseball shortstop and former UMaine standout, what they will remember is the way he carried himself.
Saturday that spirit and respect was honored when UMaine forever retired Bordick's number among the program's greatest players. Bordick, who wore No. 3, joins his college manager Winkin, manager Jack Butterfield and former pitcher Bill Swift. In an emotional presentation, both Winkin and Bordick addressed the modest crowd with President Robert Kennedy and athletic director Blake James standing by their side at home plate. The presentation, which began with current Black Bear manager Steve Trimper introducing Winkin, also featured several other notable alumni. Adorning the third base dugout were, among others, Jack Leggett, Ed Flaherty, Bob Whalen, Mike Collar, Mike MacDonald and just-graduated alum Scott Robinson. Despite the attendance of such greats, the day was largely about Bordick and honoring his legacy.
"Mike epitomizes what a local person can do if they have the will and heart and the energy to work hard for what they want," said Winkin. "I have the utmost respect for him, he's an unbelievable human being. No one worked as hard as Mike and worked as hard to stay there."
Bordick attended Leroy Smith Elementary School in Winterport and high school at Hampden Academy in Hampden.
The praise didn't stop there. President Kennedy went on to say that Bordick represents all that is good and right about the university.
"Mike is very special to the university," said Kennedy. "He signifies what we strive for at UMaine. He honestly shows that the sky is the limit for anyone who works hard enough."
Clearly touched by the outpouring of support, Bordick addressed the crowd after a brief speech by Winkin.
"This is an amazing honor," said Bordick. "To have my jersey retired with two of the greatest managers in college baseball and Bill Swift, who was one of the best, is something I truly appreciate. It's an amazing honor to be put in this company."
Beginning to get teary eyed, Bordick thanked not only the program but also his teammates.
"This wasn't anything I did," said Bordick. "This is because of the school and people who gave me the opportunity to not only play baseball but also get an education and become the man who I would end up being. I am forever in debt."
"This weekend is so special. I am having a great time being around all the current players, the older players and really old players."
Composing himself after briefly tearing up, Bordick credited the University for helping to give him the wisdom he needed in life.
"I learned things here that I will pass on to my kids and the kids I coach," said Bordick. "These are special people and this is a very, very special place."
For Bordick the day meant even more after having just become a graduate of the University after 20 years this spring.
The accomplishment was not lost on Winkin, who said Bordick made a promise to him that he would someday receive his diploma from UMaine after he departed for the majors in 86.
"A promise made is a promise kept with Mike," said Winkin. "He is a class act, on and off the field."
After leaving the Black Bears and Orono, Bordick went on to play for Oakland, Baltimore, the New York Mets and Toronto during his 14-year major league career. Bordick was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 11, 1990 with the Athletics. It was a career that would not be defined by the bat but rather by one of the smoothest gloves in the last 15 years. Wearing his work on his uniform, Bordick made a career of flinging himself to the right and diving to the left to stop any groundball hit his way. By making unbelievable plays routine, Bordick earned his right to be discussed in the same breath as other '90s defensive wizards like Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel. However, it wasn't until 2002 that Bordick earned his spot among the game's highly regarded field generals. In the summer of 2002, Bordick set a major-league record with 428 straight chances without an error. The achievement broke the mark previously set by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1990. It was also Bordick who eventually forced the Orioles to move Ripken Jr. from short to third base. Later that season, Bordick set another MLB record with his 102nd consecutive errorless game at shortstop in a game against the Red Sox.
The year even ended with Bordick caught up in a little controversy. After going 110 games and 543 chances without an error at shortstop, Bordick saw the gold glove go to Alex Rodriguez, who in 2002 had 10 errors.
"Obviously the first thing you think of when you think of Mike's career is that errorless streak and him moving Cal Ripken from shortstop," said Trimper. "But he was so much more than that and it shows with him coming back to get his degree. He laid the groundwork for this program."
The right-handed defensive specialist completed his career with a .260 batting average, 91 homeruns and 626 RBIs. His best offensive year came in 2000 when he batted .297 with Baltimore and .260 with the New York Mets, while garnering 176 hits, 20 homeruns and 70 RBIs. The career numbers came the same year Bordick made both his lone All-Star and World Series appearances.
Trimper was delighted that his current players were able to interact with such a success story.
"It's a great thing when you get a turnout like this and have all these players exposed to someone who is just the definition of hard work," said Trimper.
While at UMaine Bordick served as a catalyst for the '84 and '86 teams that made the College World Series and eventually fell in back-to-back games.
"The years we went to the World Series in '84 and '86 really stand out as some of my best memories here obviously, but it's hard to really pinpoint the absolute best," said Bordick. "To go through that with these players was a great experience. We really showed a common bond. We were as close to a fraternity as you could get. We cared about each other."
After moving on from Orono, Bordick said most of the players on those teams did their best to stay in contact.
"Whenever we could meet we would, whether it be at a golfing tournament or tributes," said Bordick. "I have stayed in close contact with more than a couple guys on the team."
On a personal level, Bordick left UMaine with the second highest hit total in school history, 90, and one of the best fielding percentages.
All this is even more special when one realizes that Winkin almost missed out on recruiting Bordick.
"I went to see another player," laughs Winkin when recalling Bordick's beginnings as a Black Bear.
On a day that paid tribute to not only Bordick but to the UMaine baseball program, it was clear that both were lucky to find each other.
"This weekend was an eye opener for me as to how many people contribute to UMaine baseball and to all the energy that goes into success," said current Black Bear pitcher Greg Norton. "The people in charge of bringing this program to where it is today shared a lot with the team, and it was inspiring and humbling at the same time."
© 2006 The Maine Campus Online