Baseball in Ukraine

[Ronnie]

For the past few months I've been living in Odessa for the purpose of spreading the game of baseball in this city and environs.  I posted this a few weeks ago and wanted to give you all a follow up and comment on the remarkable response of one of the RWD members....

I want to thank "mobob" for his kindness.  Just two days before his departure to Ukraine, he rounded up a bag of baseball equipment from his local Little League Baseball coaches and brought them with him to Kyiv last month.  We've been using that equipment, plus some that I brought myself to organize baseball here in Odessa.  We now have over thirty kids playing baseball in an Odessa park (pasture really).  The share six gloves for now but I have 23 more on their way that I bought on EBay and a charitable organization called "Pitch in For Baseball" out of Philadelphia is sending us about 30 more donated gloves.  You can follow our progress by joining my facebook group "baseball for Ukraine" http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_146297032107818&ap=1.  You can also help with shipping cost by donating to Pitch in for Baseball through a special link set up for the Odessa kids.  http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?frid=4157590

[Faux Pas]

Wow! Good going Ronnie. Very impressive. I guess I missed your earlier posts on this. What are you finding? Do any of them know how to play or are you starting with the basics?

[Ronnie]

Baseball has been in Ukraine for a while but only in Kyiv, Simferopol and some smaller places like Cherkasy, Ilyichivsk, Rivno and Kirovohrad, but no baseball in Odessa.  Kirovohrad is actually the place that has become Ukraine's 'baseball city" with an actual stadium built by the city thanks to a mayor who is an avid baseball enthusiast.  He's no longer the mayor but now serves as president of the Federation from what I'm told.  So the kids here have zero experience which makes it fun. 

[Ronnie]

Faux Pas... I just noticed your donation!  Wow..I didn't expect that much!  Thanks..I'm going back to 7th Kilometer on Monday to make another purchase.  And, thanks also to Hammer for his pledge.  You guys are awesome!
Anyone wanting to make a financial contribution can donate to Pitch in For Baseball by going to the link below.  PIFB is spending 100% to pay directly to Meest, the Ukrainian shipping company that is delivering the baseball equipment I've gathered together.
http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?frid=4157590

[GregfromGa]

My good friend, Glen Willard RIP was very instrumental in getting little league baseball started in Kiev. Glen died this past December. I met Mr Glen at Obriens during the Super Bowl in 2003. He was a great guy and he loved him some little league baseball. They actually spoke of his contribution to the sport in his obituary in the Kiev Post.  In the last couple of years I've lost my best 2 running around wingmen in Kiev, Matthew Schwartz and Glen Willard. I honestly could care less if I ever return to Kiev. I do know Glen is up there looking down on those kids playing ball. If Matthew is up there playing pool well they better watch him close. He likes to move the balls around when he's hooked and he doesnt think you're looking. Great guy though.

[Ravens9273]

Ronnie,
 
How can someone get in contact with you there?
My wifes best friend has a sone who is 5 or 6. He loves baseball and wants to play badly but cannot find other kids to play with. I have sent him a bat, glove and balls about a month ago. His balls are the safety ones though. Thought better for his age. But I know he would be there in a second to play.

[Ronnie]

Hi Ravens... 
Send me a PM with their contact info and I'll call them.  I've ordered a couple of batting tees which will arrive next month.  When they do, I want to start playing T-Ball, for ages 5-7 in Park Pobedy on Sundays.  You did the right thing sending RIF safety balls.  I didn't order enough of them earlier.
Anyone wishing to help promote baseball in Ukraine can make a tax-deductible donation to Pitch in For Baseball.  By using the link below the donation will be earmarked for Ukraine and will be used exclusively for shipping costs..paid by PIFB directly to Meest, the Ukrainian shipping company in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where I have all the equipment I buy shipped.  Most people contribute $25 or $30.  Oh, and let me say thanks again to Viking and Faux Pas for their contributions already..
Here's that link... 
http://www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?frid=4157590

[Ronnie]

Greg,


This year's Ukraine Little League Championship Tournament was dedicated to Glen Willard as you can see in some of the photos I posted on http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_146297032107818&ap=1


Regrettably, Kyiv did not send a team to the tournament.


Anyone wishing to get involved in any way with the baseball effort in Ukraine should contact me via PM.  I am currently living in Odessa.


Ron

[Ronnie]

I posted some photos of the kids on Odessa's Angels (7-9) on my facebook group page
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.163529483717906

[Ronnie]

If that link doesn't work try..  http://www.facebook.com/groups/146297032107818

[mendeleyev]

Wow-sky! So cool, Ronnie!

[GQBlues]

Cool little Halos, Ronnie! Looks like an entire team of David Ecksteins....The Red Wrecking Crew!
Even Mike Scioscia would be proud looking at your team....too cool!
 
Good job, man!

[Ronnie]

Yesterday, a package arrived with our Dodger Blue jerseys...just need to get them lettered and numbered.  And so, as if on cue, RWD member Alex arrives in Odessa with armloads of heat seal vinyl material in blue, white, black, red, navy, gold and dark green!  I met Alex today near his apartment to take delivery..  It was much more than I expected and greatly appreciated.  Alex is yet another example of the very high quality of WM who are members of RWD.   I hope his fiancee appreciates her good fortune in landing him!


Ronnie

[TheTraveler]

For the past few months I've been living in Odessa for the purpose of spreading the game of baseball in this city and environs.

One of the coolest things I've ever read here on this forum!
 
Great job, Ronnie!

[Faux Pas]

One of the coolest things I've ever read here on this forum!
 
Great job, Ronnie!

Sweet! He is accepting donations btw

[Ronnie]

At the start of this thread, nearly two months ago, I mentioned that an organization called "Pitch in For Baseball" had promised to send 30 used gloves.  Apparently, they're busy with other requests and the gloves have not yet be sent and there is no date in sight.  But thanks to Ebay I've been able to buy a number of used gloves at under $5 apiece so we're looking good in that regard.


I want to make an observation here that I find interesting about the effects that undertaking this project have had on me.  First, I've lost weight and feel more physically fit that I have in ten years or so. That's a good thing.  Most of it I attribute to the shoveling I do each night after practice. 


The change has been in my psyche.  At almost 63, one naturally begins to think more about the past than the future, realizing mother nature's clock is steadily and inevitably winding down.  But this project has changed all that.  Now, I'm doing a lot of thinking about the future.   I see these kids, some of them still young and innocent  and some already starting to go down troublesome paths.  I think about what can I do through this project to keep them out of trouble  or to bring them back if they seem to be off course.  I find myself wanting to be here in 10 to 20 years to see how they turn out.


Well, enough about that.  I do want to express my great appreciation and, indeed, admiration for those who have helped make this effort a little bit easier.  Some of you wanted to be anonymous so I will honor that and mention no one's name or even screen name here, but you know who you are and I know or hope you are being somehow rewarded for your generosity and kindness.


Shipping costs continue to be the area of greatest need and some of you in order to remain anonymous have called Meest America and paid the shipping cost over the phone.  So I will post here the phone number of Meest America and the shipment numbers and contents of boxes that are waiting in the warehouse to be shipped to Odessa.  Meest's phone is 800-288-9949 (ask for Lesya).  Boxes ready to go are:


No. CV042556094US and contains 8 fielders' gloves and a catcher's mitt and 16 pairs of gray youth baseball pants...Cost to ship..$28.38
(I'm quite anxious to see these gloves and pants..the pants are new, quality pants by Rebok (double set in pockets) and I bought them on Ebay for less than $4/pair).


No. CV042556077US.  This is quite a large box and the shipping invoice reflects that at $59.13.  But here's what's inside: 9 more fielders' gloves and another catcher's mitt; 36 pairs of baseball socks, a pitcher's plate, 10 Pullover jersey's Royal Blue with red/white trim, a set of gold Pittsburg Pirates "P" patches to be ironed on to blank hats, 2750 baseball cards which I give out for good effort and regular attendance, and one Tampa Bay Rays hat that I bought for under $5 which included some used street clothes in a boys' size that I think might fit a kid named Valik.  Valik is a poor kid who takes some ribbing from the other kids about his clothes which are often torn.  If  they fit him it will be a bonus.  I really needed that hat anyway to go with some other Rays hats that I bought for about a buck apiece.


No. CV042553606US is a smaller box and will cost only $35.84 to ship.  It contains 24 youth-sized gray FULL BUTTON Jerseys made by Rawlings.  These are high quality jerseys and after explaining their intended use, the seller agreed to sell them to me for $2 each!  The box also contains one pair of used cleats along a  dozen RIF baseballs and a LH thrower glove.


I'll post just one more box here and I WILL mention a name...
No. CV042555862US is a big heavy one...it's 71 lbs of new bats and catchers' equipment...all youth sized.  The cost to ship it will be $74.61.  It's one of three boxes of NEW equipment that was donated by a devout Christian man in South Carolina by the name of John Storie.  John is a complete stranger to me but he had this garage full of baseball stuff that he acquired somehow and though he could have sold it on EBay, decided instead to donate it. 


Saturday, we're having a work party..something they call a Subotnik.  I'm not sure how many adult helpers will show up with wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes but I know we're getting a second load of used tires to go into our backstop structure so there's going to be enough work to keep them all busy - stacking tires and compacting earth inside them.


-Ronnie




 

[Ronnie]

Well, the Subotnik came and went..  The only ones who showed were a handful of kids and Dima (oleg's father) and Viktor.  We got some work done though. 
Today, I decided to offer employment to Ukrainian fellow...I'm guessing he's in his 40's.  He has no family and no job.  He's been coming to my apartment and taking all the shipping box material out for me.  He knows were there's a recycling place that buys it for 40 kopeks per kg.  I offered him about $2/hour to work on the field.  He did show up today and did a good job.  With his help for about 20 hours a week, I think we'll see better progress.  Viktor brought us another load of tires today too, so we're continuing forward.
One kid named Vovo (Vladimir) was invited lt play with the adults on Sunday in Iliychevsk.  He's only 13 or 14 but is really enthusiastic.  He got to not only see his first real game, but was part of it, batting once or twice and playing some innings in right field.  Oh, the most important part is he got to put on a real uniform!  Today he had some of the other kids envious of him..  He's a bit of a big shot now with his peers    and well he should be...he's the first Odessa kid to play a real game!  Oh, and the team won against Cherkasy 20-9...another first.

[GQBlues]

...The change has been in my psyche.  At almost 63, one naturally begins to think more about the past than the future, realizing mother nature's clock is steadily and inevitably winding down.  But this project has changed all that.  Now, I'm doing a lot of thinking about the future.   I see these kids, some of them still young and innocent  and some already starting to go down troublesome paths.  I think about what can I do through this project to keep them out of trouble  or to bring them back if they seem to be off course.  I find myself wanting to be here in 10 to 20 years to see how they turn out....

There are some of us that walk the talk, Ronnie. You're definitely one of them...

......which included some used street clothes in a boys' size that I think might fit a kid named Valik.  Valik is a poor kid who takes some ribbing from the other kids about his clothes which are often torn.  If  they fit him it will be a bonus.....

Start him at 2B, then groom him to play shortstop. Kids with tough character always make awesome infielders. They're naturally physically reactive.
 
Good job, Ronnie!

[Maxx2]

I'm proud of you Ronnie.

[Ronnie]

Darn it!.  Right now I should be out working on the field but each time I do, a muscle spasm in my neck/should area flares up..incapacitating me for a day or so.  So today, I'm trying to stay immobile.  I'm taking a great NSAID..a generic form of Voltaren.  Works pretty well. 


Yesterday, I went visited a big store called Epicenter.  It's Ukraine's version of The Home Depot.  I priced a number of items we'll need to either buy or try to scrounge from parents.  I did buy a section of vinyl mesh fabric.  We need to sift the dirt to get rid of not only larger pebbles but the countless shards of glass.  I keep having nightmares about a kid sliding into third and opening a long gash.


Thursday, a kid's mom came by and scolded him about something and kids humiliated him in front of all of us.  After she left, he just sat there with his head down.  I sent everyone out to infield positions and asked one of the players to conduct infield practice, leaving Alex and I alone.  I told him I was sorry he was upset but if he would talk with me a minute, I had something important to ask him.  Without looking up he said he would talk.  I told him I'd been thinking about naming him the (13-15) team captain but wanted to make sure he understood that being captain meant he must be an example of behavior and a leader both on the field and off.  I asked if he thought he could do it.  He responded "yes" and so I said, "Great, captain, now go on out to the shortstop position."  He jumped up and the crisis ended.  Now, I'm afraid that he won't be able to do what he needs to do to be that example to others.  We'll see.


One of the most disturbing habits these kids and adults seem to have is belittling each other for errors...errors which, he belittler himself makes, often within seconds. 
---
I feel remiss is not reporting earlier that within just a few hours of posting the 4 equipment shipping invoices in this thread, they got paid by some RWD member(s).   You guys and gals are great!  Thank you.


Ronnie

[Faux Pas]

Darn it!.  Right now I should be out working on the field but each time I do, a muscle spasm in my neck/should area flares up..incapacitating me for a day or so.  So today, I'm trying to stay immobile.  I'm taking a great NSAID..a generic form of Voltaren.  Works pretty well. 


Yesterday, I went visited a big store called Epicenter.  It's Ukraine's version of The Home Depot.  I priced a number of items we'll need to either buy or try to scrounge from parents.  I did buy a section of vinyl mesh fabric.  We need to sift the dirt to get rid of not only larger pebbles but the countless shards of glass.  I keep having nightmares about a kid sliding into third and opening a long gash.


Thursday, a kid's mom came by and scolded him about something and kids humiliated him in front of all of us.  After she left, he just sat there with his head down.  I sent everyone out to infield positions and asked one of the players to conduct infield practice, leaving Alex and I alone.  I told him I was sorry he was upset but if he would talk with me a minute, I had something important to ask him.  Without looking up he said he would talk.  I told him I'd been thinking about naming him the (13-15) team captain but wanted to make sure he understood that being captain meant he must be an example of behavior and a leader both on the field and off.  I asked if he thought he could do it.  He responded "yes" and so I said, "Great, captain, now go on out to the shortstop position."  He jumped up and the crisis ended.  Now, I'm afraid that he won't be able to do what he needs to do to be that example to others.  We'll see.


One of the most disturbing habits these kids and adults seem to have is belittling each other for errors...errors which, he belittler himself makes, often within seconds. 
---
I feel remiss is not reporting earlier that within just a few hours of posting the 4 equipment shipping invoices in this thread, they got paid by some RWD member(s).   You guys and gals are great!  Thank you.


Ronnie

Ronnie,


What is the financial and equipment synopsis as it stands right now?

[Gator]

One of the most disturbing habits these kids and adults seem to have is belittling each other for errors...errors which, he belittler himself makes, often within seconds. 

Just tell them that errors are "learning opportunities." 
 
Related to this, I have met several RW who were perfectionists.  An example comes to mind when watching the Olympics:  "The silver and bronze medals  do not matter.  Gold is everything."
 

[Ronnie]

Ronnie,


What is the financial and equipment synopsis as it stands right now?

With what's been received already, on it's way, or still sitting on the dock at Meest, we have enough to outfit about 6 teams.  That's twice what I've got going right now because I'm looking for another practice site in another neighborhood so as to create a second collection of kids.  There are two Americans here who are former baseball players.  One teaches English and the other is minister and long-time resident of Odessa (17 years).  The minister does a Friday evening baseball outing at a school near his church but his time is limiting his ability to enlarge that activity.  The English teacher lives very near me but does not seem to have the interest or time to put into coaching kids.  So I'm trying to find a way to handle two locations myself, but for the moment I need to get our field in shape.  It will be a big recruiting tool when the kids see a nice field and games happening between teams in uniform.


Financially, I have exhausted my own resources, but continue to pick up things when I see them dirt cheap on EBay.  That's why there continue to be packages in the pipeline at Meest.  For example, right now I'm the only bidder on a set of new "Rockies" jerseys by Russell Athletic...already lettered, just need numbers.  If I get them, they will cost about $4 each.  I can't get blank T-shirts here for that price.  Earlier, I made a buy on a lot of MLB hats ($1.50 ea.) in youth size, including about 19 Rockies hats, so this is an especially interesting auction. 


These ongoing Ebay buys are why I depend on some help to cover the Meest shipments.  Meest, BTW was good enough to lower the cost per pound down to $.79 - about 20% less than their standard rate.  Thanks to RWD members' help, my balance at Meest is down to about $350 with about 3-4 more shipments yet to be weighed and invoiced.  In all these shipments, I have only had to pay one customs fee of just $7.  Meest seems to know how to keep customs to a minimum.



As I wrote, I am starting to step up the efforts on the field construction.  One of the mothers organized a petition from the locals and the city deputy responded...giving his blessing to the construction, but no financial support.  I've been through this before in California.  Twenty years ago we rebuilt a ballfield at a local junior high that was nothing but a backstop, and an non-irrigated field full of star thistle and and gopher holes - really unsafe for the kids.  Today, the field is the best in town - irrigated, fully leveled, fenced, sodded with a hybrid Bermuda and, now, even lighted.


Here, I don't expect that a comparable field will be built in my lifetime, but I would like to see this field tilled and leveled, fenced using old tires packed with dirt (free) and covered with Boston ivy or wild grape (free), seeded with about $200 worth of a mix of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye.  For water, we'll just have to rely on natural rainfall which seems to be fairly adequate during the summer here.  Well need a push lawnmower or two at $100 each and about $100 worth of chemicals.  I figure we'll seed the infield first, getting the seeds to germinate with daily hand watering from a 20 liter backpack sprayer ($18 at Epicenter), then seed the outfield in manageable strips over the course of 6 weeks or so.
I already purchased the backstop netting (EBay) and we just need to buy a pole for about $20 and some rope for about the same amount to hoist the netting up for the backstop. The other pole will be an existing utility pole. Bases have been ordered.  I did the calculation for the river sand quantity that we need and it looks like it will cost about $100 (or less) delivered.


In all, this field will be constructed with mostly free labor and about $650-$700 worth of supplies  Our player uniforms and team equipment will have come to something on the order of $3,000-$4000 with shipping most of which is already paid but as I said, we'll have 6 teams or more outfitted.. 


Thanks for asking  Faux Pas.  And, thanks to all those of you who have helped out or may want to in the future.


-Ronnie

[Ronnie]

Just tell them that errors are "learning opportunities." 
 
Related to this, I have met several RW who were perfectionists.  An example comes to mind when watching the Olympics:  "The silver and bronze medals  do not matter.  Gold is everything."

This does indeed seem to be the approach they have.  That would explain why the Ukrainian coaches seem to have no tolerance for errors...not understanding that in baseball, as in golf, perfection is not even possible.  The whole idea is to limit the imperfection, not expect to eliminate it.  Creating an atmosphere where the player tries hard with no fear of failure, seems to be, in my experience, the best thing a coach or parent can do.


Ronnie

[Ronnie]

I'm continuing my updates in a new thread under "Trip Reports".


-Ronnie