The members of our son's baseball team, Frozen Ropes from Niles, IL, in the presence of their parents came with me to present the "FedEx Grand Slam Baseball" to Tim in the lobby of the Regency Lodge 909 S. 107th Street, Omaha NE on Saturday morning, June 21st.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Giving The Ball Back To Tim The Morning After
The members of our son's baseball team, Frozen Ropes from Niles, IL, in the presence of their parents came with me to present the "FedEx Grand Slam Baseball" to Tim in the lobby of the Regency Lodge 909 S. 107th Street, Omaha NE on Saturday morning, June 21st.
The Movie That Inspired "Tim's Grand Slam Blog"
"Sometimes when you believe the impossible the incredible comes true." - Field Of Dreams Trailer
Click here for more.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Fed Ex Delivers :: WRAL.com
Tim Federowicz, AKA, Fed Ex, delivers one of the most powerful grand slams in UNC history. Top of the 9th- tied with LSU-facing elimination-in a game that took two days to play.
Fed Ex Delivers :: WRAL.com
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tragedy & Hope: The McCarty-LSU Connection To This Story
Marilyn McCarty and our two sons, Andrew and Thomas on the morning of "Tim's Grand Slam Day" outside the room where the LSU players were having their breakfast. 
Lifelong LSU baseball fan dies seconds after big winBATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - As LSU heads to Omaha for the College World Series, the family of a lifelong LSU baseball fan says he will have the best seats in the house.
Curt McCarty was just outside Alex Box Stadium last Sunday as the Tigers launched a nail-biting come-from-behind victory in the Super Regional. He was sitting under an oak tree, listening to the game on the radio. His teenage son was inside, sitting in the stands.
Seconds after the team's big win, Curt McCarty died of a massive heart attack. "He was taken home to rest on Sunday, June 8, 2008, at age 55, while doing what he enjoyed most, watching the LSU baseball game when the Lord called him home," read his obituary. Read more and watch video coverage of this story here.
CWS Notes: LSU tries to ease teenage fan's painBY STEVEN PIVOVAR AND DIRK CHATELAIN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS - Published Saturday June 14, 2008
Logan McCarty had hoped to attend the College World Series with his father to watch their beloved Louisiana State Tigers.
Tragedy changed that plan. Curt McCarty, 55, died Sunday of a massive heart attack outside Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. The elder McCarty was stricken shortly after the Tigers had saved their season with a ninth-inning rally against UC Irvine.
Before leaving for Omaha, several LSU players were watching a news broadcast Wednesday when they learned of 17-year-old Logan's plight.
"Our guys started calling me, saying they wanted to do something for the family," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "They wanted to give up their meal money in order to buy him a plane ticket so that he could come to Omaha with us.
"We were all moved by the story. And I was moved that my guys were willing to do whatever they could to try to help ease this young man's pain." Read more.
On the morning of the day of Tim's Grand Slam another article appeared in the Omaha Herald as follows:
Published Friday June 20, 2008Tiger family sticks together
BY CHAD PURCELL
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Nobody is naive enough to think that baseball or any of this Rosenblatt Stadium hoopla is going to erase the McCarty family's pain.
But can the College World Series actually ease the grip of unimaginable grief?
Marilyn McCarty is here in Omaha to say yes, it can.
The tragedy that struck the McCartys last weekend has been well-chronicled in Bayou Country. But the outpouring of support from the Tigers faithful for McCarty and her son, Logan, only has intensified since they arrived in Nebraska. Read more.
While driving back to our hotel with our boys I thought of Marilyn and her son, Logan. I tried to put myself in their shoes. The pain of losing a husband & father - at just 55 years young - must have been unbearable, but there was a corresponding pain of witnessing LSU's bitter-sweet lost to UNC earlier in the evening.
When we got back to the Crown Plaza Hotel where we and the LSU players were staying I caught up with Marilyn McCarty and got the chance to meet her son, Logan, for the first time. Since leaving Rosenblatt Stadium with Tim's grand slam ball I received this idea to give the ball to Marilyn and her son with the suggestion that they offer the ball back to Tim Federowicz.
After I caught Here's a picture of Marilyn and Logan McCarty with our son, Thomas, right after I gave them the grand slam home run ball hit by Tim Federowicz:
Here's a video of me making the offer to Marilyn and Logan: I received a call from Marilyn McCarty early the next morning. She thanked me/us for the ball and offer to present it to Tim Federowicz, but upon overnight reflection acknowledged that she would not be able to present the ball to Tim as she and her son, Logan, had to be at the airport for a flight back to Baton Rouge LA later in the morning. I met her in the lobby with local LSU volunteer coordinators, Ed Armfeld and Terry Devlin, who helped me to locate the local UNC Team coordinators and Hotel.
I ended up calling the hotel where the UNC team was staying and asked the operator to connect me with Tim's room. When Tim answered I introduced myself, saying something to the effect that I was "Fred Smart from Evanston, Illinois. I caught your home run ball last night. How would you like to get your ball back?" Tim responded with a "yes" and we made arrangements to gather up the kids and parents from our oldest son's team so they could participate in this event.
Here is a short video of the introduction I made to Tim Federowicz prior to presenting him the ball over in the lobby of the Regency Lodge 909 S. 107th Street, Omaha NE - later on Saturday morning, June 21st, the morning after "Tim's Grand Slam":
An Introduction Prior To Presenting Tim's Grand Slam Ball
Here's the team shot - Frozen Ropes in Niles, IL - with myself and Tim standing in the foreground:
(you can click the image to enlarge any of the pictures in this blog)
The 7th Inning Stretch - 89 Year Organist Endures At College World Series - NYTimes.com
Lambert Bartak, the College World Series organist for more than 50 years, playing a 1935 Hammond organ at Rosenblatt Stadium.Ensuring It Still Feels Like the Old Ball Game
When the seventh-inning stretch arrives, the first few notes of “Ball Game,” as Bartak’s handwritten sheet music calls it, lifts more than 20,000 people to their feet and gets them singing. For a moment, the organ is not just part of the ambient sound, but is plugged into the fans.
The video scoreboard shows Bartak playing, and he gives a wave and returns the applause when the song ends. The game continues and Bartak disappears into the background, waiting for the signal to play again. Read more.
A Rainbow Graced Rosenblatt Stadium Prior To The Resumption Of The UNC vs. LSU Game on June 20th
This picture was taken at 7:45 pm just prior to second time the twice-rain-delayed UNC vs. LSU game got underway. They played only 1/2 inning the day before with UNC taking a 1-0 lead with the bases loaded. Less than 40 minutes into the resumed game the following day, June 20th, the heavens opened up again with a 20 minute deluge that brought more rain than during 4-5 hours of waiting the night before.
Streaker Sets The Stage For Tim's Grand Slam
2008 College World Series Streaker - June 20th
Omaha68135 wrote:
During North Caroline vs Louisiana State University elimination game a streaker jumped onto field of play during the 8th inning. After posing he was prompyly taken down by security. With a 3-3 score, the Tar Heels advanced with a grand slam at the top of the 9th inning with defense sending the LSU Tigers home.
Omaha68135 wrote:
During North Caroline vs Louisiana State University elimination game a streaker jumped onto field of play during the 8th inning. After posing he was prompyly taken down by security. With a 3-3 score, the Tar Heels advanced with a grand slam at the top of the 9th inning with defense sending the LSU Tigers home.
SunHerald.com Picture Archive of the UNC-LSU Game
North Carolina's Tim Federowicz hits a grand slam against LSU in the ninth inning of an NCAA College World Series elimination baseball game, in Omaha, Neb., Friday, June 20, 2008. North Carolina beat LSU 7-3. Dave Weaver/AP Click here for more.
UNC slams LSU to stay alive in CWS
Tar Heels must beat Fresno State twice to reach best-of-three final again
North Carolina players mob Tim Federowicz, center, after his grand slam against LSU in the ninth inning on Friday. The Tar Heels won 7-3. Read more.
Carolina's CWS bid continues
OMAHA, Neb.: Tim Federowicz, on paper, shouldn't have been a threat to LSU.It turned out he ended the Tigers' season and kept alive North Carolina's bid to reach the College World Series finals for a third straight year.
The Tar Heels' veteran catcher has been known more for his glove than his bat at the College World Series the past three years. Judging by his flailing strikeout in the seventh inning Friday night, it didn't look like his reputation would change.
But in the ninth, after the batter before him was intentionally walked, Federowicz hit a grand slam off Louis Coleman to send the Tar Heels to a 7-3 victory. Read more.
Documenting My Catch of Tim Federowicz's Grand Slam
Bob Sperling, our oldest son's former baseball coach in Evanston, IL took this video to document the fact that I/we miraculously caught Tim Federowicz's miracle "grand salami" home run.
What a incredible moment in time for Tim, his UNC team members and all of the fans to remember! A great "God Wink!"
See http://www.whengodwinks.com/
Fred Smart - Evanston, Illinois
PS. Feel free to share your comments on this blog or send us an email to timsgrandslam at gmail dot com
Grand slam lifts Tar Heels
Federowicz HR clears the bases in top of ninth to eliminate LSU; Fresno State awaitsAssociated Press
OMAHA, NEB. — LSU took the risk. North Carolina reaped the reward.
Tim Federowicz made the Tigers pay for intentionally walking the batter before him, hitting a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning Friday night to send North Carolina to a 7-3 victory in a College World Series elimination game disrupted twice by rain over two days.
"It was a great feeling to get up there with bases loaded in the College World Series with a chance to put us ahead," Federowicz said. "I struck out the at-bat before, and I knew he would bring the slider. My adrenaline was pumping."
Federowicz channeled that energy and drove LSU reliever Louis Coleman's 1-1 slider into the middle of the stands in left field. Read more.
Federowicz slams LSU's title dreams
BY STEVEN PIVOVARWORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Federowicz launched a ninth-inning grand slam that gave the Tar Heels a 7-3 College World Series victory over Louisiana State in a game that was suspended by rain Thursday night, then delayed by showers another 90 minutes on Friday. Federowicz's homer, the first CWS grand slam since 2001, kept North Carolina alive in its bid to reach the championship series for the third straight season.
North Carolina improved to 52-13 and advanced to tonight's 6 o'clock Bracket Two championship game against Fresno State. Stanford and Georgia will open today's action at 1 p.m. when they play in the Bracket One final. Read more.
We Caught Tim Federowicz's grand slam ball against LSU
This was the first video I took right after catching Tim's grand slam home run in the top of the 9th inning against the LSU Tigers. I/we were rooting for LSU so I was completely stunned to catch the ball and wasn't quite sure what to do or how to react.
From the instant Tim connected with the ball I felt as if the ball was coming right at me. I really didn't even have to stand up for it seemed to come right into my hands and fall right into my lap before falling under the bench below where I was sitting.
I've been close to catching a few foul balls in my life and it always seemed to be a mad scramble with flying arms and bodies resulting in a few bruises now and then. But this ball seemed to come right at me as if it was a cosmic gift from our creator. It was such an amazing experience that I felt compelled to document it in greater detail with the creation of a blog which you can visit at the link below:
http://timsgrandslam.blogspot.com/
Fred Smart - Evanston, IL
From the instant Tim connected with the ball I felt as if the ball was coming right at me. I really didn't even have to stand up for it seemed to come right into my hands and fall right into my lap before falling under the bench below where I was sitting.
I've been close to catching a few foul balls in my life and it always seemed to be a mad scramble with flying arms and bodies resulting in a few bruises now and then. But this ball seemed to come right at me as if it was a cosmic gift from our creator. It was such an amazing experience that I felt compelled to document it in greater detail with the creation of a blog which you can visit at the link below:
http://timsgrandslam.blogspot.com/
Fred Smart - Evanston, IL
Sports Illustrated Dot Com Coverage
UNC tops LSU on 9th-inning slamOMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Tim Federowicz's grand slam in the top of the ninth inning Friday night sent North Carolina to a 7-3 victory over LSU in a College World Series elimination game disrupted twice by rain in two days.
Federowicz hit his fifth homer of the season and the College World Series' first grand slam since 2001. As soon as the ball left the park, Tar Heel players spilled out of the dugout for a welcoming party at home plate. Read more.
ESPN College Sports Coverage
OMAHA, Neb. -- LSU took the risk. North Carolina reaped the reward.
Tim Federowicz made the Tigers pay for intentionally walking the batter before him, hitting a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning Friday night to send North Carolina to a 7-3 victory in a College World Series elimination game disrupted twice by rain over two days. Read more.
ESPN Video Recap
Rivals.com Coverage
OMAHA, Neb. — LSU ran out of magic tricks.For the last two months, the Tigers have made a living rallying in the latter innings and leaving the opposition wondering what could've been.
The tables turned on the Tigers Friday night, as North Carolina catcher Tim Federowicz hit a grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to give the Tar Heels a 7-3 lead and win over the Tigers.
For at least one night – the most important night – luck was not on LSU's side.
"My emotion is that I feel bad for the kids, they gave it everything they had and left it out on the field tonight," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "We just came up short. We ran out of miracles." Read more.
Recap Game 10: North Carolina vs LSU
Friday, 20 June 2008
OMAHA, Neb. – Tim Federowicz’s two-out, ninth-inning grand slam broke a 3-3 tie and allowed second-seeded North Carolina to advance with a 7-3 victory over seventh-seeded LSU at the Men’s College World Series Friday. Read more.
CBS Sports.com
June 20, 2008CBSSports.com wire reports
OMAHA, Neb. -- Tim Federowicz's grand slam in the top of the ninth inning Friday night sent North Carolina to a 7-3 victory over LSU in a College World Series elimination game disrupted twice by rain in two days.
Louis Coleman had intentionally walked Tim Fedroff to load the bases with two outs before Federowicz turned on a 1-1 pitch and drove it into the middle of the stands in left field.
Carolina (53-13) moved to the Bracket 2 final against Fresno State on Saturday. The Tar Heels must beat the Bulldogs twice to return to the best-of-3 championship series for the third straight year. Read more.
Federowicz's 9th-inning slam keeps Carolina alive
Tim Federowicz's grand slam in the top of the ninth inning Friday night sent North Carolina to a 7-3 victory over LSU in a College World Series elimination game disrupted twice by rain in two days. MiamiHerald.com- 06/23/08 at 10:13AM
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
The Perfect Shot
North Carolina's Tim Federowicz hits a grand slam against LSU in the ninth inning of an NCAA College World Series elimination baseball game, in Omaha, Neb., Friday, June 20, 2008. North Carolina beat LSU 7-3.
(AP Photo/Dave Weaver) Courtesy of Yahoosports.com
According to NCAA Men's College World Series Game #10 Notes:
Tim Federwicz’s grand slam was the 45th all-time at the MCWS and the first since Georgia’s David Coffey on June 11, 2001, a span of 280 plate appearances. It was Federowicz’s third career homer in the MCWS (16 games) and the 20th of his career (206) games. This home run was also the first home run by North Carolina in the MCWS – as the Tar Heels were the last team to homer in this year’s MCWS. Tim, who lead MCWS – as of 6/20/08 – with six RBIs, drove in five runs against LSU, one of his best in that category.
2008 College World Series North Carolina Tar Heels
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