When Dave McKay Isn't Dave McKay, But Really Is

Last week I had a moment that can only be created by this contraption we call the internet.  I was on Facebook and saw Dave McKay on there.  Pictured and standing next to two World Series trophies, this Dave McKay had to be the Dave McKay who is the first base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals and has been with Tony LaRussa's coaching staff through two World Series victories, one with the A's & one with the Cards.  I reached out.  Dave, wanna do an innerview?  He came back.  Yeah, I'm flattered.  I thought, Cool, Dave McKay is flattered to talk to me (I'm a big deal as a pitcher, but as a "web guy," I am merely human).  We set it up.

I set myself to researching Dave McKay.  Remembered his old baseball card from the late-70s (I have a photographic memory for one subject only: baseball cards.  Now if I could only use that power to save mankind in 2012).  Dave McKay was born in Canada and is a member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.  Dave McKay was drafted from the Twins to be part of that inaugural 1977 Blue Jays team.  Dave wrote a book with Jose Canseco.  Dave's son made the big leagues and was part of The Mitchell Report.  Dave McKay lives in Arizona. 

I had my questions.  I was set.

The time to talk comes and I make the call.  A voice picks up on the second ring.  Hello.  I say hello and thank Dave for the time.  He says sure.  Something's weird.  I was expecting one of those weird Canadian accents.  This didn't sound too Canadian.  I make mention of this.  Nope, born & bred in Boston, Dave says.  I mention his home in Arizona.  Nope, born & bred in Boston.  I ask, nicely, Is this Dave McKay?  The one who's the first base coach for the Cardinals?  Nope.  This is Dave McKay, the president of the Yawkey Baseball League.

Oops.

I'm in a bind.  What's the Yawkey Baseball League?  How come I went into denial when I saw the picture of Dave McKay on Facebook standing next to two World Series trophies and then mentally, yet subliminally, compared that to the Wikipedia photo of Dave McKay helming first for the Cardinals.  Facebook Dave McKay looks kind of heavy.  Wikipedia Dave McKay used to work out with Jose Canseco.

Um, how ya doing, I say.  I thought I had a different Dave McKay.

So now what?  Do I hang up and run, even though I'm home and where would I run since this Dave McKay is in Boston and probably kind of heavy and would never catch me and why would he run after me anyway?  I decide on the fly to turn this into lemonade.

Tell me about the Yawkey Baseball League.  Dave McKay is happy to.  He explains it was named after former Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey and it's the premier amateur baseball league in the Boston area. 

Amateur baseball?  Yep.  These guys pay to play.  Sounds like getting a song on the radio, I say.  Any guys ever make the big leagues, I ask.  Yep.  Rich Hill & Manny Delcarmen.  The talent in the league isn't as good as the Cape Cod League, but it's still special. 32-game season.  15 teams.

15 teams!  Must be a huge league.  Yep.

This becomes fascinating to me.  I know nothing of amateur baseball for adults.  Now I'm learning.  And learning rounds me out.  And rounding me out makes me smarter and a better conversationalist at dinner parties with small sandwiches that are handed out on silver platters and drinks and small-ish napkins and then the conundrum of how do I hold the plate with the small sandwich along with my napkin and the drink and here comes someone else with the little hot dogs in the blankets.  Yum.

Dave McKay, my new favorite Dave McKay, tells me about his blog for a local Comcast TV show he runs called The Boston Baseball Heads Show.  He's also lost 120 pounds in the last year to get down to 325.  I wonder if he trained with Canseco to lose that much weight.  He says the reason was so he could hit fungoes again.  I think to myself if that isn't a reason to lose the weight, then what is? 

We close out with Dave McKay telling me how he takes the month of March to travel to Florida, every year, and watch collegiate baseball.  He also checks out his beloved Red Sox and other grapefruit league teams.  Oh, he hates the Yankees too.  Very much.  He subscribes to the MLB package on his cable system just so he can watch the Yankees.  Why?  He uses the old adage, You keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

The Yankees might be Dave McKay's enemy.  But he's certainly my new friend.  Dave McKay, thank you for your time.  I'm flattered you spent so much with me. 

All my best,

Jimmy Scott