Sigma Chi Beta Iota
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University of Oregon
FROM THE DESK OF JOHN HIBBS
Abner Doubleday and the Sigma Chi Founders --
a lot in common ...
This summer there's been an interesting experiment underway at Swede Johnson stadium that's worth keeping your eye on. At first blush it doesn't look that way so a little bit of history is in order.
About the time Abner Doubleday, a gallant Civil War hero, was crafting the sublime game of baseball, a bunch of rebellious collegians in Ohio had far reaching ideas of their own. They had this belief that something special would be gained by banding together and calling themselves Greeks. Out of their lofty principles came Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi -- also known as The Miami Triad.
Where Doubleday's genius was centered around the precise measurements of sixty feet six inches and ninety feet between the bases, their proposition was centered around concepts like "friendship, justice and learning". As with the game of baseball, it took most of the rest of the 19th Century for the Greek System to take root. But in the 20th it blossomed and is now a special part of the American landscape.
Like baseball, the Greeks have had their ups and downs and today there are plenty of detractors. Inside many a major league park and many a big league university are serious gripes about alcohol, drug abuse, dark secrets and spoiled kids with way too much money. Nobody quite knows what to do about it and not too many people have given hard thought to how Greeks might help baseball -- and how baseball can help Greeks.
Which brings us back to the experiment going on at Swede Johnson stadium. Well, almost.
Another wee bit of history is a Sigma Chi named Swede Johnson, class of 1952, University of Oregon. Swede was fixated by the idea that if he could make clear the linkage between baseball, excellence and brotherhood, what would come out of this would be a first class stadium built especially for youngsters. Mission Accomplished. Go visit the fields adjacent to North Eugene High School and see for yourself a splendid park named after Brother Swede Johnson,
Now, fifty years later, the Oregon brothers of Sigma Chi are rubbing a new wrinkle on these old ideas. This summer they have sponsored an American Legion team so that kids 15, 16 and 17 will play forty-five well organized, well umpired, well coached games against other kids of the same cast of mind. For those who believe that discipline, sweat, team spirit and good leadership are fine ingredients for the acquisition of "friendship, justice and learning", this is good stuff.
But, so what? Except for a relative few, why is any of this newsworthy? What makes the experiment at Swede Johnson stadium worth watching?
Here's why: The spearheads behind all of this are John Hibbs, an aging Oregon Sig, and Carl Nicholsen, the Mover and Shaker of American Legion baseball in Lane County. They believe they can convince large corporations to buy into the proposition that media savvy collegians running well attended events in drug free arenas is an undertaking that is good for business; good for America. Their vision is of teams all over the nation playing inside uniforms where the idea of character development is lettered on the jersey.
It's a towering vision underpinned by a glittering history. It also fits well with those who believe that the best lesson baseball teaches is that the only perfect thing in life is 90 feet to first base.
Contact
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by John Hibbs
A private note: There may be better ways to spend an afternoon then lolly-gagging with deeply committed parents shouting encouragement to kids doing their best in a game infinitely complex and utterly simple, but it's hard to imagine what that might be.
Besides, Eugene in the summer is like a slice out of heaven.
Related links:
Beta Iota Alumni Association Home page
Beta Iota Alumni Association Actitivities Page
Beta Iota Alumni Association Baseball Page
Reflections of a House Director: Baseball
Reflections of a House Director: Badges, Baseball and Banking
Reflections of a House Director: Eugene in the Summer
Home Page for Sigma Chi Baseball
Hibbs Article: About Baseball, Bus Rides and Brotherhood
Hibbs Article: Significant Sig Swede Johnson, and Swede Johnson Stadium
Hibbs Article: Recruiting, Summer Jobs and Bank of America
Hibbs Article: Abner Doubleday and the Sigma Chi Founders -- a lot in common
