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BY CHRIS KELLER
ckeller@nwitimes.com
219.933.3223 | Tuesday, November 08, 2005 | (No comments posted.)
For 18 major league seasons, Dan Plesac gave batters fits.
Now retired, the former left-handed relief pitcher wants to give back to those who helped him reach success in the big leagues, where he appeared in 1,064 games, good for fourth all-time upon his retirement in 2003.
The Crown Point grad spoke Monday at the annual dinner of Pirates, Inc., a charitable volunteer group that provides monetary support to the care and treatment of children with disabilities.
"I've been born and raised in this area and I really feel I need to start to get more involved in the community," Plesac said. "It's difficult, when growing up here, but most of my career I wasn't playing in the Chicago area.
"A lot of people I don't know supported me throughout my 18-year run and there are people who followed my career who will be here tonight, and this is a way to give back, say thanks and bring a smile someone's face."
Pirates, Inc. began in 1966 following the completion of the Tradewinds Rehabilitation Center in Gary. The organization provided money to ensure children received therapy services. To date, Pirates, Inc. has provided more than $3 million in support to the Tradewinds and the Down Syndrome Association of Northwest Indiana.
At its annual dinner, the organization honored William Hasse, the outgoing "Admiral" or president of the group. Hasse, the president of Hasse Construction Company, Inc., welcomed the incoming Admiral, Kevin Roach a member of the Laborer's Union Local 41.
Plesac currently makes his living as a commentator on the Cubs postgame show on Comcast Sports Net. He also spends a lot of time and energy raising three harness-racing horses on his 30-acre farm in Crown Point.
During his career, Plesac pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies, recording 158 saves. And while the physical ability needed to throw a strike in the ninth inning of a close game might fade over time, the competitive nature remains.
"It's almost like baseball in a way," he said of training his horses. "You go through your warmups and prepare for the time when that phone rings and you go out on that mound. You do the best you can to prepare them for a race, but once they get on to the track, it's out of my hands and is up to them.
"I think the neat part about it is they all have their own unique personalities and some enjoy competition, some don't. Some like to train, some don't. I love it."
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