Alumni News - Hannibal-LaGrange University

ReflectionFall03.qxd 9/22/2004 4:33 PM Page 34
Sports
by Brandy Campbell• Public Relations Staff Writer
If you’ve talked to HLG
President Woodrow (Woodie) Burt
anytime after August 15, you’ve
probably noticed his increased
usage of the name “Nolan Ryan.”
For example, if you were to ask
Burt about the weather, he may
have answered “It’s a beautiful day.
Reminds me of the day I had batting
practice with Nolan Ryan.”
Or, if you were to comment on a
meal you were having with Burt, he
may have responded “Sure, this is
good. Not quite as good as the dinner
I had with Nolan Ryan, but it’s
good.”
No, Burt hasn’t slipped into a
dream world. In August he had the
opportunity to meet the man whom
he has been a fan of for more than
twenty years. The story began
when Burt went to his nephew’s
graduation in Houston. While
there he read in the paper about a
contest sponsored by Nestle’s Baby
Ruth. People who considered
themselves Nolan Ryan’s biggest
fan could send in a 60-second
video, introducing themselves to
Ryan and sharing why they should
be able to meet him. The winners
would then be flown to Texas to
meet the hall-of-famer himself.
“I have admired Nolan Ryan as
an athlete for years,” said Burt. “As
I studied his life, I also began to
admire him as a person. So when I
saw the contest, I knew that I had
to enter! In the 80’s I decided to
begin collecting sports items, and I
chose to focus on one player, Nolan
Ryan.”
Batting 1000
Burt Has Batting Practice
with Baseball Legend Nolan Ryan
Burt chose to feature
his Nolan Ryan collection
in his video. What began
as a shelf of memorabilia
has since taken over an
entire room in the Burt
house. Pieces range from
autographed pictures and
baseball items to bobble
head dolls.
Burt’s video was chosen as a
top-ten finalist. The videos were
placed on the Baby Ruth website,
and fans voted for their favorite.
The response was so overwhelming
that Nestle chose to send all ten to
Texas.
On Saturday, August 16, Burt
and his wife, Katherine, stepped
onto the Dell Diamond, home of
the Round Rock Express, a double-
A minor league baseball team
owned by Nolan Ryan. After
warming up with Ryan’s son, Reese,
the legend himself took the mound
to toss a few pitches.
“One of the other guys asked
Nolan if he was just going to lobb
the ball, or if he would really be
pitching,” said Burt with a laugh.
“He told us we didn’t come all that
Burt pictured with Ryan collection
way to have the ball lobbed. And
he wasn’t kidding! I will always
remember standing there and having
Nolan Ryan pitch to me. It was
fun, but definitely the most intimidating
part of the weekend!”
After batting practice and pictures
with the winners and their
spouses the group attended a
Round Rock game against Wichita.
They were served dinner on the
upper deck patio, where Burt experienced
the highlight of his trip.
“Katherine and I were sitting
there eating, and to our pleasant
surprise, Nolan Ryan, his wife
Ruth, and their son Reese sat with
us,” said Burt. “So I had a one-onone
conversation with the greatest
pitcher of all-time!”
“The trip was everything I had
hoped for and more,” concluded
Burt. “Nolan was every bit as humble
and gracious as I had heard he
was. He holds all of these majorleague
records, but is just an
incredibly humble individual. I’m
still amazed that I was able to meet
someone I have admired for so
many years.”
Burt gives an HLG shirt to Ryan
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