by Scott Detrow
Public Radio Capitol News
(Harrisburg) -- Bats replaced bills on the House floor yesterday, as lawmakers donned caps and honored two baseball standouts.
The chamber became a sea of red when lawmakers put on Phillies caps to approve a resolution honoring Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas, who died earlier this year.
That created a bit of a hostile environment for the next guest, Hazleton native Joe Maddon, whose Tampa Bay Rays played the Phillies in last year’s World Series.
Lawmakers honored Maddon for taking the Rays from last place to the Fall Classic.
He says that’s a task within reach for the Pirates, who haven’t had as much success as their Philadelphia counterparts in recent years.
"Well I like the Pirates. I got to see them a lot at spring training. I think they have a lot of good young players. It just takes time, and you need the right mix of players, pitching-wise, defense. All the components that you need to get to the top. But I like what the Pirates are doing a lot, actually."
Maddon was the 2008 American League Manager of the Year.
He says taking on a team from his home state made last year’s Series appearance that much more special.
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About PRCN's - Scott Detrow
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- Scott Detrow covers state politics for Pennsylvania's public radio stations. Detrow came to the Capitol from WITF-FM, where he covered Central Pennsylvania news and anchored local "All Things Considered" segments. Much of his reporting focused on the 2008 presidential primary and general election. He also covered the Pennsylvania National Guard, and won a national Edward R. Murrow award for reports on the 56th Stryker Brigade's preparations for a 2009 deployment to Iraq. Detrow has also covered New York City politics for WFUV-FM, earning a distinction from the New York Press Club, and won a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for a radio documentary on South Africa's AIDS pandemic in 2007. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Fordham University with degrees in political science and English.