For 10 years Darrel Grissom has donated his life to baseball, creating a summer paradise for future Major League baseball players to cultivate their skills.
The Hamilton Joes, a premier college baseball team named after Hamilton and MLB legend Joe Nuxhall, invites 25 college athletes each summer to apply their trade at Foundation Field.
Grissom created the Joes and serves as the manager. Grissom admits it has become his passion to coach the Joes but also acknowledged the thrill of receiving “the call.”
“I like getting that call when one of these guys get drafted,” Grissom said. “They are excited, you get excited and it feels really good. We play a small part in getting these kids ready to move onto the next level and hopefully end up in the Major Leagues.”
“I really love coaching this team, Grissom continued.” I love what we have brought to the city of Hamilton. This is the next best thing to Minor League baseball and our community gets to experience high level baseball right here in our own back yard.”.
Indeed, each summer Hamilton becomes the destination of choice for 25 college kids, each armed with a desire to follow in the footsteps of Joes who came before.
The mantra of the team is “Where the stars of tomorrow play today,” The past eight years the Joes led by Grissom have had 40 kids get drafted with three playing on Major League rosters. The headliner is current Milwaukee Brewer Brent Suter.
Suter once applied his trade at Foundation Field in Hamilton and Grissom said it is a lesson for younger players to follow.
“These guys are here to get ready for the next level and hopefully the Major Leagues,” Grissom said. “They spend two months practicing and playing in Hamilton to be seen by scouts that can help get them to the next level.”
Host families in Hamilton take in the players each summer, with most host families fielding kids in the younger Hamilton Joes select baseball program.
“These guys love the game,” Grissom said. “We couldn’t do this without the host families. The little Joes all want to grow up to be big Joes.”
The players are not paid at this level and Grissom receives recommendations from college coaches to fill out the roster.
“Really, the roster is built off the relationship with the coaches,” Grissom said. “We try to have the roster in place by Thanksgiving.”
The team competes in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. Grissom said it is neat for the city of Hamilton to see good baseball with players who someday will compete at the highest level.
“It never gets old,” Grissom said. “Each year brings a whole new roster. I have to learn new names, new faces and new attitudes. It takes a lot to get ready for the season but it is rewarding and a lot of fun.”