Welcome to Glanville!
A place that captures the essence of baseball and its profound impact on the world
After years of playing, writing about, and covering baseball from different perspectives, I’m excited to share the stories this game has inspired along the way. From the moment my big brother laid out his major league dream for me, baseball has been a constant force in shaping my journey. These stories reflect the heart and humanity of the game, offering a glimpse into what binds us all to baseball.
The Role of My Father’s Influence
My first true understanding of the poetry of baseball began with a school assignment on “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer. The rhythm of that final line still echoes in my mind:
“But there is no joy in Mudville – mighty Casey has struck out.”
To meet the requirements of my English class assignment, I took the liberty of rewriting the poem, keeping the same cadence, page after page. I explored every direction baseball could take. Not only did I get an “A” on my paper, but my teacher loved it so much, she showcased it to the class. I even had the chance to read it aloud.
Though I wrote in the rhythm of Thayer’s iconic poem, it felt like a connection to my father’s own passion for writing poetry. There were countless moments in my childhood when he would disappear, caught by a burst of inspiration—at a museum, in the stands, in the backyard. It seemed that his writing was undeniable, even for him.
When my book came out in 2009, I wrote and included a poem to honor what he left behind. His many works now rest in my attic, but the connection I feel to my father, despite his physical absence, is always present when I write. Like so many of us who lose people we love, I sought ways to keep him close. For me, photos and videos didn’t quite capture it, nor did old stories. But writing, especially poetry, has brought him back.
It was all the more meaningful knowing I was writing for his favorite newspaper, The New York Times—a milestone he was never able to see.
The Connection Between Writing and Social Change
Through this journey, I have often been reminded that writing is a muscle, one that needs exercise. But it is also reciprocal. It’s how I connect, and how I’ve felt my father’s presence, even though I buried him with the ball from my 1,000th hit—the very same hit I notched in the final game of the season, the day he passed away.
Soon I understood that writing was more than just a craft—it was therapeutic, the way I thought. It became clear, I needed to write, not out of obligation, but as means of expression. My writing naturally flowed into issues of social consequence, in one case leading to a law in the State of Connecticut after two years of living “I’m Just a Bill” from Schoolhouse Rock. My mom, a fierce advocate—for equality, fairness, and justice, has been more than just my champion. She earned that crown from so many others who have been touched by her support. Writing became a way to honor the fight for her causes—our community’s causes—because change often begins with a story.
The Changing Landscape of Journalism
Those of us in the writing world know how much our industry has changed. I still carry childhood memories of my parents reading the Times at the kitchen table. It has been tough reconciling my dream of being a columnist that you can depend on every week. It is just not the template anymore. And trust me, I have tried.
Through it all, I have taken a step back and admired the incredible baseball writers who are not working right now—humbling, to say the least.
That reality led me to ask myself the logical question, “Why not write anyway?”
The Birth of Welcome to Glanville
Welcome to Glanville is the result of finally answering that question. For too long I tied my opportunity to write to those who liked my pitch. As a player who liked to swing the bat, I knew I had to keep swinging with my words.
I invite you to Glanville—a place rooted in baseball, but also in the love and family that surrounds our game. Here, I will share ideas, musings, anecdotes from the cutting room floor, and the poetry of baseball. Together, we’ll unpack, explore, and dive deeper into the rich stories of baseball, sports, and humanity.
And yes, I will throw in a few mentions of Hall & Oates from time to time.
Welcome to Glanville will bring together my past as a major league player, my present as a baseball analyst and insider, and my hopeful future as a writer, advocate, and storyteller. I will share segments from my show Class is in Session with Doug Glanville which delves into topics at the intersection of sport and society—an endeavor inspired by my eight years as a college professor. I’ll also pull from my time as co-host of the Starkville podcast with Jayson Stark, and, of course, my incredible journey at ESPN, where I have worn many different hats. I am grateful for these outlets, where I can continue to be a part of baseball, the game I love.
Now, I’m bringing it all together in one place—just for you.
I hope you will stay, maybe even buy some land, and sit under the sun with me for just a moment. All are welcome, so share Welcome to Glanville with friends and family.
And I assure you, there will be joy. So, add dougglanville@substack.com to your contacts or respond to this email to avoid emails ending up in your junk/spam folder.
Welcome to Glanville!
