Author Archives: Reed Sandridge

Day 114: Clint Robinson, Washington Nationals

Posted on April 24, 2015 | 1 comment
Photo: minorleagueball.com

Photo: minorleagueball.com

One of the great stories this Spring Training was that of Clint Robinson. The 30-year-old has spent his professional baseball career playing for a variety of minor league organizations. The Nationals invited him to Spring Training with the hopes of making the 25 man roster and what do you know, he made it! It’s the kind of story that makes you want to support those who have worked so hard for so many years for this moment. Clint earned it and I’m excited to watch him play this year.

Now if I could just get Clint to come out and help my softball team with our hitting. Bryce Harper joined us a few years ago – so it could happen!

Let’s go Nats!

Day 114

Dear Clint,

Congratulations on making the Nationals roster this year. I know that you have worked very hard to get here and I’ve enjoyed watching you play. That triple you hit off of Porcello deep to center in Boston was beautiful.

Day 114-2I’m intrigued about your bat collection. I am a bit of a collector myself – not of bats (although I wouldn’t be opposed to collecting bats) but of items that tell a great story. Speaking of stories, I heard that you have some miracle bat that you are carrying around that hasn’t broke in over two months of use. That sounds like a record probably for you – you hit the ball pretty hard.

Anyway, I’m excited to cheer for you this year. I’m a huge Nats fan and want to welcome you to our city and wish you a great season – and many more to come. Good luck tonight against the Marlins.

Reed Sandridge
(@ReedSandridge)

P.S. I read that your wife Samantha is expecting. Congratulations to you both. Enjoy this special moment in your life.

 

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Day 113: FedEx Office Ft. Lauderdale

Posted on April 23, 2015 | Leave a comment
My original letter from Day 24

My original letter from Day 24

I mentioned on Sunday that last week a letter that I mailed back in January to a FedEx Office location in Ft. Lauderdale was returned to me. Yep, it took the U.S. Mail nearly three months to figure out it was undeliverable and send it back. I double checked the address and there was no problem with that. The only thing I can think of is that the person I addressed it to, the general manager of that location, no longer worked there.

Well, I was in Ft. Lauderdale this week and decided I would hand deliver the letter to the FedEx Office. Unfortunately my schedule got pretty full and I got there after they closed. So I wrote them a short note explaining what happened and put everything in a new envelope and dropped it in the mail before heading to the airport this morning.

Day 113

Dear FedEx Office,

I’m not sure why my original letter was returned, hopefully you get this one. If Tom Vayne is not the correct name of the store manager, please forward this to the appropriate person. 

Best regards,
Reed Sandridge

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Day 112: Anonymous Letter Left at Roger Dean Stadium

Posted on April 22, 2015 | Leave a comment

Day 112-6I’m in Jupiter, FL today for work and decided to catch a minor league baseball game. The Palm Beach Cardinals were hosting the Fort Myers Miracle. Both are Class A Advanced Affiliates for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins respectively.

I wrote up an anonymous note, tucked it in a neatly addressed aubergine envelope and left it on a table that was right behind the home plate seats at the end of the fifth inning. Surely someone would see it there and pick it up. After the game, I walked by to make sure someone had claimed it, but to my surprise it was still sitting there.

I had pretty good seats!

I had pretty good seats!

I picked it up and walked outside. I was trying to think of another clever place to put it when I saw a mailbox for the stadium. Perfect! I dropped my note in there, we’ll see if anyone finds it.

Oh, and in case you were interested, the Cardinals easily took care of Miracle 7-2.

Day 112-5

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

You can see the mailbox where I dropped my letter just to the left of the door.

This note is for you. I’ve made a commitment to write a handwritten note every day this year. If I could, I’d make a commitment to go to a baseball game every day for a year! I love the game and hope that you enjoyed tonight’s game as well. 

Best regards,
Reed Sandridge (Wash. DC)

The Cardinals beat the Miracles 7-2.

The Cardinals beat Miracle 7-2.

 

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Day 111: Gary Fish, Deschutes Brewery

Posted on April 21, 2015 | Leave a comment

My favorite brewery is 2,690 miles from my home in Bend, Oregon. I figured they should make their way into my 365 letters, right? Cheers!

Day 111

Dear Gary,

We met briefly back in June of 2011 here in Washington, DC at SAVOR Craft Beer festival because I won free tickets after I wrote a letter to the Washington Post requesting free tickets based on the fact that it would be the only place I would find Deschutes here in DC.

Day 111-2That was then. Now Deschutes is starting to pop up here in Washington….at RFD’s, Nando’s Peri Peri, Founding Farmers, Arrowine, Lost & Found – even Whole Foods. This is making my life better and I wanted you to know that we here in D.C. appreciate it very much!

If there is ever anything I can do to help you and Deschutes here in DC, please let me know.

Cheers,
Reed

 P.S. I’m planning a big party in January of 2016 – I’d love for you to join us and have lots of Deschutes on tap!

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Day 110: Matt and Erin

Posted on April 20, 2015 | Leave a comment

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can think of few ways to spend free time better than with good friends. Last Saturday evening I visited with Matt and Erin, great friends and terrific hosts who enjoy tasty food and boozy concoctions as much as I do, so an evening with them centers around their dining room table which is boiling over with homemade salty and savory treats with the likes of homemade butter and delicate Italian truffles. Their charming Woodley Park apartment feels more like 1950s France than modern-day Washington, DC.

Erin pushes food while Matt, who usually doesn’t last more than a few hours before the need for sleep wins him over, stays awake by making cocktails and assuring that everyone is good on drinks.

saffronThey had just returned from a trip to Greece and brought me a thoughtful little gift of red saffron – which I’ve never had. Saffron is a curious spice. I’ll never forget the first time I went shopping for it. I couldn’t find it and asked a store employee for help only to be told, “Oh, saffron, we keep that in the safe of course. It’s worth like a $2,000 a pound.”

I appreciate their thoughtfulness and look forward to having them over and making them something delicious with it.

Day 110

Matt and Erin,

Thank you so much for having me over on Saturday. As always, it was a lot of fun. And thank you for the Greek red saffron – that was completely unnecessary but very thoughtful and much appreciated. I’ll have to have you over and make something with it. I’m thinking this would add a delicious touch to fusilli pasta with zucchini and pine nuts.

Day 110-3See you soon

Reed

P.S. Matt, all my respect to you for staying up as late as you did – that may be a new personal best!

 

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