Cape Cod Baseball League

New Mexico Governor Richardson, Cotuit Kettleers 1967

Richardson talks up Obama and Matsuzaka
NM Governor once pitched in the CCBL

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson believes the Democratic Party needs a “free-spirited” primary for the presidential nomination.

But he won’t decide until next month whether he will be part of that contest. In an interview with the Globe, Richardson said it would be good if Senator Barack Obama joined the presidential race. Even though it might hurt his own chances to be the nominee, Richardson said an Obama campaign would bring in new voters.

“I am not among those praying he doesn’t get in,” Richardson said. “He brings a measure of excitement that is really good for us as a party, and I think the party needs a free-spirited primary”... Richardson, a life-long Red Sox fan, said he was also very hopeful about the Sox’s newest acquisition, Daisuke Matsuzaka, the Japanese pitcher.

“I hope this makes up for the loss of Pedro [Martinez],” said Richardson, who pitched in the famed Cape Cod Baseball League... Read the Globe story here.

The CCBL web site reports "Richardson has fond memories of 1967, his one season in the Cape League, and retains ties to it. A sophomore at Tufts University at the time, he was a middle reliever "with a pretty good ERA and strikeout ratio. But I wasn't destined to go to the majors." 

He recalls rooming with the Savery family in Cotuit while playing for the Kettleers. "I used to do landscaping to pay for the room and board. We had to work pretty hard," he said...

Bill remembers Thurman Munson too 

One of Richardson's memories (maybe not a fond one, but one he talks about) is the home run Hall of Famer Thurman Munson hit off him while with the Chatham A's. "Munson was one of the best hitters in the league. I served him one of my best fastballs and I think it's still going," he laughed... Read the CCBL story here.