Rookie Respect

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports As a high school senior in 1973, I was faced with a very difficult college decision of whether to attend Georgetown University or Rollins College. On the surface, it would appear that going to Georgetown was a no-brainer.

But, during my junior year in high school, the St. Louis Cardinals sent one of their baseball scouts to Connecticut to see me pitch in a Senior Babe Ruth League game. His name was Robert Ludwig and his professional scout business card with the Cardinals’ logo on it remains one of my most prized possessions.

Mr. Ludwig asked me what my college intentions were and suggested that I look into Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida because…