Ben Cherington From a one-stoplight town in New Hampshire to the bright lights of Fenway Park Ben stood center stage. He did so with a team of bearded men on the evening of October 31, 2013 and joined the rest of "Red Sox Nation" in a celebration no Bostonian had seen on the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park since 1918.

Yes, on that stage, Ben stood with players such as David Ortiz, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester and Dustin Pedroia, but as the live television cameras broadcasted historic images to fans around the world, showing a man with a smile wearing a World Series tee shirt and hat, his family and friends saw so much more.

I have been fortunate enough to personally know Ben Cherington as a friend and a teammate. It was no surprise to me when I read in a recent article in our Alma mater, Amherst College Magazine that Ben stated, “I (he) wanted to get off the stage as quickly as possible” in response to the question of how “he felt on that podium that evening”.*

As a young and successful competitor, Ben’s sports journey began on the ice and on the diamond as a two-sport athlete. However, sidelined by two devastating injuries in high school and then college, he was forced to stop playing baseball, the game he came to love. Then there was a choice, one that sports so often and unfortunately presents, which was whether to walk away or embrace the challenge he faced.

It was at that time and through those experiences Ben learned a life lesson from sports: nobody, other than himself, was going to tell him when or how to stop.

Ben Cherington, a teammate, a friend, a leader, a world champion, and perhaps most importantly of all, a man who learned important lessons from sports that helped him succeed in so many facets on and off the field.

Of quick note, this interview was recorded two weeks prior to the start of the 2013 playoffs, providing a unique perspective to hear Ben’s thoughts as the team prepared for their World Series run. Also, this was one of my earlier interviews – so please excuse the imperfections you may hear during this audio recording.

*These statements and quotes are paraphrased from the Amherst College Alumni Quarterly Magazine, Amherst, MA

Sandy Alomar Jr. was an All-Star Major League catcher who shares stories from his life as well as the secrets from the mound in this tremendous interview that every baseball player, parent and fan should listen and learn. Son Of Big Leaguer Sandy Alomar Sr. Young Sandy Learned How To Be A Leader On and Off The Field.

Sandy Alomar Jr. played Major League Baseball for close to 20 years, winning multiple awards and selected as a 6-time All Star for the American League. His most dominating performance was during the 1997 playoff run and ultimately in the World Series.

Sandy’s leadership defines so much of who he is and originates from how he was raised in a small town in Puerto Rico. Sandy grew up with an attitude of doing things only one way – the right way! First and foremost Sandy was focused on being a person of character. He learned from an early age to learn his role and understand how he could contribute. And Sandy did a fantastic job of contributing!

Sandy shares many stories, including playing ball as a child, under the bleachers of major league stadiums, with Ricky and Barry Bonds while their respective fathers played professionally.

Sandy ended up playing with and against some of the greatest names in his era such as Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Benito Santiago. Despite all of his successes, Sandy always deflected credit to others and emphasized the importance of listening, learning and teaching.

Sandy Alomar Jr., is a man who understands priorities and is the ultimate leader in every sense of the word.