The newspaper world is a lot like baseball’s major leagues. Wait, don’t laugh — there is a good explanation (although we don’t generally end up on baseball cards). See, newspapers are a national job market. Generally, you start fresh at smaller circulation papers “the minors” and work your way up to the “majors” large circulation papers based on your performance and work ethic. It’s very rare having the opportunity to end up on the “majors” in the same city you were born and raised, simply because the marketplace is so extremely competitive and jobs are very difficult to find. Therefore, I feel remarkably humbled and blessed to work in my own community at the Post-Dispatch.  While sometimes I might come across to my editors as a complete pain-in-the-you-know-what, it’s actually due to my nonstop passion for the paper I’ve picked up since learning to read twenty-five years ago.

When we were brainstorming for our St. Louis Cardinals project a month ago, I thought about what it would be like to play for the Cardinals AND be from St. Louis. What would your parents think when you played well? Alternatively, played poorly? How do you manage the fame of being a professional ball player with the same crowd you knew in high school? What do you tell the kids asking for autographs when you were once one of those kids?

Immediately, native St. Louisan Kyle McClellan came to mind. We met briefly at spring training camp in Jupiter last spring, and I knew he attended Hazelwood West High School and now lives in St. Louis with his wife Bridget. The roots for a good story were there - I just needed the opportunity to tell it — and poof! — here came that perfect opportunity.

Kyle’s father Terry (center) and sister Leslie (right).

Therefore, I eventually met up with Kyle’s parents Terry and Kathleen McClellan during a recent Cardinals game against the Minnesota Twins. Of course, they attend every St. Louis game and watch Kyle when he is on the road, so it wasn’t hard to find them. The whole family — a self-described baseball family—had their eyes on Kyle. While we were interviewing, we talked about Kyle’s rise to the majors, and at one point, Terry choked up when he remembered the moment Kyle made the Cardinals roster. Talk about a memorable experience! Kathleen keeps a journal for her son with thoughts he shares about his major league experiences. I couldn’t help but think that this must be far more precious than any stat or report kept on Kyle by his own team or a reporting institution.

Kathleen McClellan (center) and Terry McClellan (right).

In addition, just like newspapers, there is always the business behind the game and the ever present thought of another team trading for Kyle. It’s a reality Kyle’s parents face, but it is something they live with. Like any good parents, they only want what is best for their kids. Listen to the interview with Kyle’s parents and see Kyle in action at the June 27, 2009 game against the Twins!