Liking Baseball and Being Lutheran
On August 14, the Minnesota Twins hosted the 31st annual Lutheran Night. Groups of Lutherans from across Twins territory were encouraged to come cheer on the team (what’s left of them, after a massive trade deadline in which 10 of the 26 players were traded).
My friend and colleague, Pastor Seth Perry from Elim Lutheran Church in Scandia asked me to help coordinate the logistics. I soon learned a few of the perks to liking baseball and being Lutheran.
In April, we had our first official “planning meeting” at a Twins game (they lost in extra innings; this will become a theme).
Lutheran night involved the singing of the national anthem, the throwing out of the first pitch, singing Take me out to the Ballgame, and presenting a Faith in Action award to a current Twin. Many groups of Lutherans were in attendance, including a nice contingent from Faith Lutheran.
Pastor Seth did all the work behind the scenes, but there were a couple tasks that I graciously took on.
My 8th-grade son Phin attended that April game, so it was decided he’d go on the field to present the Faith in Action award.
We were excited to brainstorm who that player might be. Pastor Seth reminded us that the player wouldn’t be declared until closer to the game, just in case they were injured, in the minors, or potentially traded (boy, were we right to wait on that).
On August 1st, we determined that Phin should present this award to is a cardboard cutout silhouette of a player with the label “Player to be named later”, a designation given to an unknown player in a trade who will complete a deal at a future date. The Twins did not agree with that suggestion.
However, the Twins chaplain nominated rookie pitcher Zebulon “Zebby” Matthews. While Zebulon is one of the 12 sons of Jacob in the story of Genesis, I assume his reason for selection was praying for offensive support during his pitching outings. Those prayers have been mostly unanswered (he’s 3-4 on the year).
Another highlight was seeing Bishop Patricia Lull, the head of the ELCA in our Saint Paul Area Synod of churches, throw out the ceremonial first pitch. After throwing the ball across the plate, we told her to keep that arm loose. Just in case she was needed later.
The Twins played well enough to win and had enthusiastic singing from the “Friends of Faith Lutheran” who sang Take me out to the Ballgame. My two youngest sons proudly boasted of being on the Jumbotron 6 or 7 times.
The manager, Rocco Baldelli, put on a show after getting ejected. He kicked dirt on home plate and threw his hat on to the field after he got to the dugout.
Rocco was either upset that he didn’t receive the Faith in Action award or that he’d just read the Pohlad letter to the fans that they aren’t selling the team.
But, in an all too familiar script, the Twins lost again. In extra innings.
As one season ends, the hopes of a Minnesota fan base can be diverted to a team with optimism and a promising season. Could the Vikings possibly let us down?
On second thought, the WNBA playoffs start in 2 weeks. Go Lynx!
Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at
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