Buck Paulson

There is now a channel on TV that is called MLB.COM. It is all about baseball 24/7. I have to pinch myself to see if I am in Heaven or not. Can you imagine the joy of such a channel?
I recall my early days when baseball was all I could think of. I was pointed toward professional baseball from the first grade. Well, upon graduating from High school at the age of 17 ½, I was fortunate enough to sign a professional baseball contract as a pitcher for the Fargo-Moorhead Twins of the Northern League. I joined them in the middle of the season.

Danny Litwhiler, who played 11 ½ years in the Major Leagues, was our playing manager. He had played with the St. Louis Cardinals in a couple of World Series, played in an All-star game, etc.

Anyway, the first time that I pitched was in relief. I entered the game in the 6th inning. We were behind; they had a couple of runners on base. Well, here I was in my dream world. They did make a couple of hits before I retired the last batter in the inning.

I came off the mound, walking towards the dugout. I was as excited as I could be. I was on the path to my boyhood dream. I was doing exactly what I wanted. However, I made one little mistake: In high school pitching I would come off the mound, make a self deprecating statement, and the coach would pat me on the shoulder and say, “That’s okay Paulson, go out and get them the next inning.”

When I approached the dugout in my first professional baseball game, I said to Danny, “Gosh, I am hopeless out there.” I expected a pat on the shoulder and some encouragement, but Danny said, “Loren, warm up, Paulson, come with me!” I was mortified. I was out of the game!

We walked to the dressing room under the stands where Danny proceeded to chew me out royally. His final words ring in my ears to this day, “Paulson, you are a professional, act like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made a vow then to never put myself down again. I have come close to always remembering that vow.

We can be humble without putting ourselves down. God doesn’t make junk!

Years later, I re-connected with Danny Litwhiler. We have become best of friends. I was even asked by him to paint the cover for the book of his life, “Living the Baseball Dream.”