Yeah. Marty was the star pitcher as a freshman in 2000 to win the state title (1st time in Milford’s history, and Jarvis White’s last bit of glory), the team failed to repeat due to an auto accident that injured several of the starters during the playdowns in 2001, Marty sat out 2002 due to persistent arm troubles, and took the team to the state championship game in 2003. Marty had the opportunity to turn pro after that and pass on college, something Thorp encouraged him to do.
hhhhmmm thanks raveswing; very interesting. things are much simpler in Mudville, er ah Milford these days. I followed gil Back then, but that had gotten crowded out of my ever shrinking brain.
He really did. He suggested that Marty could always go to college later - and went on to suggest that Marty get the team signing him to stipulate that it’d pay for college if he didn’t make it in the pros - but that this was his big shot and in his shoes, Thorp would take it.
razorback2824 about 15 years ago
So Milford did win a state championship. At least that justifies why they are always a contender.
Ravenswing about 15 years ago
Yeah. Marty was the star pitcher as a freshman in 2000 to win the state title (1st time in Milford’s history, and Jarvis White’s last bit of glory), the team failed to repeat due to an auto accident that injured several of the starters during the playdowns in 2001, Marty sat out 2002 due to persistent arm troubles, and took the team to the state championship game in 2003. Marty had the opportunity to turn pro after that and pass on college, something Thorp encouraged him to do.
There, that’s the backstory.
JonD17 about 15 years ago
hhhhmmm thanks raveswing; very interesting. things are much simpler in Mudville, er ah Milford these days. I followed gil Back then, but that had gotten crowded out of my ever shrinking brain.
JonD17 about 15 years ago
if anyone is interested, I came across this somewhat interesting site for Gil T. followers http://gilthorp.wordpress.com/
MamaTaney about 15 years ago
ooh – Marty must be a bad boy now, he’s sporting a scraggly goatee
boozoothatswho about 15 years ago
Are there actually playdowns anywhere in the real world?
Ravenswing about 15 years ago
Sure there are. I just doubt they call them playdowns, but probably they did in whatever state Jack Berrill was living in the 1950s.
allanbrown about 15 years ago
@ Chikuku
Yeah but all that sane responsibility makes for a poor storyline
hizzonner about 15 years ago
Ravenswing - did Thorp really encourage the kid to skip college?! Sounds un-Thorp.
Ravenswing about 15 years ago
He really did. He suggested that Marty could always go to college later - and went on to suggest that Marty get the team signing him to stipulate that it’d pay for college if he didn’t make it in the pros - but that this was his big shot and in his shoes, Thorp would take it.