Page 4 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

HALL of FAME, Continued from page 3 sars from 1977 through 1979, and
then, in 1980, the team became
right up the road to Eastern Michi- known as the Detroit Auto Kings.
gan University, where you were voted And I was the player manager in
a captain in both baseball and bas- 1980.
ketball during your senior year. You
were then named All-Conference in CC: Now, in the midst of all of
baseball in 1964 and 1965—and this, you become a father! Tell me
your batting average for three years about your family.
at Eastern was .400. How did you MG: I am just so thankful for my
balance it all—academic and athlet- wife, Doris—and the kids, Lori and
ics? Sheri, who were at most of the
MG: It wasn’t easy. I was also games. They mean the world to me.
commuting from Wayne the whole So, it wasn’t like I was away from my
time. I think I did more studying on family during those times. Even on
the road trips while I was on the bus road-trips, they went on a lot of
than I did any other time. Another those. I’m sure people do realize that
key factor in the balancing act was there are a lot of things that become
that I got married in the midterm of important in people’s lives, and un-
junior year, and that made a big dif- fortunately, the most important thing
ference. Eight o’clock you start your doesn’t always get the time or prior-
classes, then you go right to practice, ity from the father that they should.
you get done with practice, and then It’s hard to express what my wife and
you come home and it’s seven-thirty kids mean to me. Doris had to give
or eight o’clock at night. There was Mike Gouin’s uniform on display at the Softball Hall of Fame. up a lot of things [to support my soft-
not much time to study. while I was playing. four former Detroit Tigers, Jim ball career]. Family is the most im-
Northrup, Norman Cash, Mickey portant thing. When people are on
CC: But then, a big change: You CC: Let’s get something out of the Stanley and Jim Price. their death bed, they don’t think, I
begin playing softball during the way for those who may not be famil- wish I had more money in my check-
summer while in college. Why the iar with both games: How does soft- CC: Which professional softball ing account or I wish I had a bigger
switch? ball differ from baseball? teams have you’ve played for?
MG: At that time, I was married, MG: The main difference is that MG: I played for the Detroit Cae- See Hall of Fame, page 5
and I needed to generate some in- softball is slow-pitch—not fast-pitch.
come to help during the summer. Therefore, you don’t have to worry
Doris was working and trying to sup- about not being able to hit a curve-
port us. So, I was working at that ball. The other big difference, to me,
time with the City of Wayne’s Parks is that softball has a lot more action,
and Recreation Department. I would it’s faster, and you have to be a better
work from eight o’clock in the morn- defensive and more complete player.
ing doing different things, and then
at night I was running the softball CC: How did you get the opportu-
fields, where the games were played nity to play professionally?
in Wayne. I was there until about MG: I had been successful play-
eleven-thirty at night five days a ing for the Little Caesars amateur
week. So, the bottom line is, I didn’t team. When Mike Ilitch formed a
have time to play baseball some- team to join the pro league in 1977 I
where—I played softball because I was recruited along with several of
could play right there at the field. My my teammates. Mr. Ilitch recruited
wife would run the concession stand four players from other states and

4 · June 2022 · The Wayne Dispatch