Walther's Easter turns in a Classic effort

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Steve Easter would have been glad to walk out of U.S. Cellular Field just with some priceless memories on Monday afternoon.

But the recent Walther Lutheran grad headed home with something more tangible as well: the co-MVP award of the first Double Duty Classic.

The event, named for the late Negro Leagues great and Chicagoan Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, pitted a pair of all-star teams featuring players from the Chicago area and other Midwest cities. They wore replica uniforms recalling those used by players in the first Negro Leagues East-West All-Star Game held 75 years ago at old Comiskey Park.

Simeon's Jonathan Dorsey singled home his Wolverines teammate, Blake Hickman, in the bottom of the ninth for the West to tie the game 4-4. It ended that way, but the result was pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

"It means a lot to be playing  in these Negro Leagues uniforms of people I idolize likke Satchel Paige and Jackie Robinson and Josh Gibson," Easter said. "It's just an honor to be in this uniform."

That Easter was even playing here was a bit of an upset. "I got a call about three weeks ago, but they weren't sure if I was going to be able to play," he said. "Last week it was finalized."

Easter had thrown for the Cubs RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) team on Saturday, which should have meant he was running on fumes Monday. But that was hardly the case.

The Oakton Community College recruit worked the first three innings for the West, allowing no runs on one hit while walking none and striking out six.

"I was in the bullpen warming up and my arm felt really good," he said. "I just tried to come out and show what I had."

The memory he'll treasure most, however, didn't involve anything that happened on the field.

"Seeing Frank Robinson and Jesse Jackson sitting next to each other, that was a proud moment," Easter said. "I'd never seen either one of them before."

Simeon's Jesse Wiggins, who was 2-for-3 with two steals and a run scored for the West, also appreciated the historical nature of the event.

"Hearing from my father about Frank Robinson and Jackie Robinson ... it was a great pleasure to meet his daughter [Sharon Robinson]," said Wiggins, who played in the Jackie Robinson West Little League on the South Side.

With all the baseball greats and celebrities on hand, Wiggins had some butterflies before the game.

"After long toss, I felt pretty good," he said. "Got warmed up and went about my game."

And to honor his heroes, he simply went out and played hard.

"I got a little dirty," he said, gesturing to his uniform, "so I'm kind of proud." 

Kenwood's Isaac Lewis and Curie's Kevin Finney drove in runs for the West with sacrifice flies. Blair Springfield of Decatur shared MVP honors with Easter, finishing 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a double. 

mclark@chicagosuntimes.com