Former Sox star applauds public parks

Former Chicago White Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall is a major fan of Illinois parks.

The Wheaton resident visits the parks there often to enjoy his favorite recreational pastimes of swimming, walking and tennis. He also enjoyed the tranquility while authoring his latest book and planning his former radio talk show.

"Parks give you a chance to take your mind off what went on all day," Piersall said during a recent visit to the Illinois Association of Park Districts' office in Springfield.

"The atmosphere is so good because of the trees, magnificent flowers, and the ducks and geese," he noted. "Parks are better than a psychiatrist's pill."

Ted Flickinger, executive director of the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), left, and former White Sox player Jimmy Piersall talked baseball and recreation during a recent meeting in Springfield. (State Journal-Register Photo/David Klobucar)

Piersall's interest in public parks stemmed from his childhood in Connecticut. He played league baseball at various parks there, an experience which helped promote his interest in a major league career. In addition, he worked as a park attendant.

He also visited parks often during the years his nine children were growing up and again during his 22 seasons as a professional baseball player.

Piersall feels that coaches and other supporters of youth sports often "overdo the trophy thing." He says effective training for those persons coaching youths could be achieved by assigning them as assistants to coaches "who know what they're doing."

"Every kid is different . . . and a coach isn't a psychiatrist," Piersall said.

"However, coaches should learn to expect anything, including kids that can't hit a baseball or field one. They should know how to deal with those situations," he noted.

"If kids are afraid of a baseball, I tell them not to play because the ball hurts. Not wanting to play ball is nothing to be ashamed of."

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 March/April 1986