One of my favorite things to collect in the hobby is out of the ordinary stuff. Some might say oddball, or even eccentric. For me, it’s often helped keep the hobby an actual hobby. It’s helped keep it fun and kept me out of the ever-looming ruts that can happen when doing the same thing over and over again. Either chasing the dollar, chasing the rainbow, and/or chasing your PC.
One of those oddball types of cards I like to collect for fun are dogs on trading cards, but more specifically, baseball dogs. Dogs on trading cards go back almost as far back as the beginning of trading cards themselves. I have a few from the 1930’s on tobacco cards. And I have more recent ones like the Westminster Dog Show insert set from 2024 Topps Allen & Ginter.
However, what I really like, and feel is rarely found outside of baseball, are dogs involved in the game of baseball in one way or another. Typically they’re bat dogs, or dogs that will bring refreshments to umpires, or dogs that will bring a restock of baseballs to the home plate umpire, or even just a dog that ends up as a sort of lucky charm or mascot of the team like Hank the Baseball Dog for the Milwaukee Brewers back in the mid-2010’s.
The story I really wanted to talk about, at least according to my best efforts at digging around, is the very first baseball dog and the two trading cards, yes, just two, that were made featuring this dog. That dog is Jericho the Miracle Dog.
The story of how Jericho became the first baseball dog starts with Mike Veeck. Yes, that Mike Veeck, of Disco Demolition Night fame. With declining attendance at his White Sox home games, Mike Veeck, the team’s Director of Marketing and son of the owner Bill Veeck, partnered with anti-disco and local radio personality Steve Dahl to have a Disco Demolition Night in the summer of 1979. Fans were told to bring disco records to the stadium with them, and between the first and second game of a doubleheader, the records would be gathered on field and Dahl would detonate them. It all went awry, and the second game of the doubleheader was never played, eventually leading to the White Sox having to forfeit that game to the Tigers. The fiasco followed Veeck around, and he never got another job at the MLB level once he resigned from the White Sox in 1980 in the midst of his father selling the team to Jerry Reinsdorf. Shortly thereafter, Veeck headed down to Pompano Beach, Florida to run an advertising agency until the new owner of the Miami Miracle brought on Veeck as a team president in 1990, with the marching orders to put butts in seats for what was essentially an Indy ball team averaging 100 fans. His first idea – Jericho the Miracle Dog.
In the late 80’s Jeff Marchal was working at a Farm Store in Pompano Beach, Florida, accompanied by his faithful golden retriever Jericho. On a whim one night, Jeff asked a customer in a drive through lane if it was alright if he sent Jericho out to collect the cash, and a legend was born. Jericho would collect payments in a bag, and likewise return with the customer’s goods in a bag. With two drive thru lanes, Jericho was so popular that sometimes customers would go through one lane, and then go through the second lane with a new order to see Jericho again. Eventually, one of those Farm Store customers ended up being Mike Veeck. With Veeck grasping at any straw for marketing ideas for his new role with the Miami Miracle, it didn’t take him long to connect the dots.
Jericho would become Jericho the Miracle Dog, where he would bring balls and water to umpires, catch a frisbee from any umpire willing to throw him one, shag fly balls, and watch the game from his custom dog house located on the field in foul territory. An instant hit, Veeck once said that Jericho received more autograph requests than the Miracle’s manager, Mike Easler, a 14 year MLB vet and one time MLB All Star.
As for baseball cards, Jericho was included in the 1990 Miami Miracle’s Team set produced by Star (best known for hotly debated Michael Jordan rookie cards). The 1990 Miracle set came in two varieties: a bright yellow set, often referred to as Team Set I, and a teal set, often referred to as Team Set II. I was unable to find the reasoning behind the two separate sets other than perhaps a decent amount of roster turnover leading to different checklists, and possibly Veeck looking to have a second set of cards to sell at the stadium. Fortunately, Jericho made it into both sets with two different photos being used.
The Yellow set has Jericho as card #30 with a more traditional player photo look while wearing sneakers.
The Teal set has Jericho as card #31 with his ball basket in his mouth, showing how he was more than just a mascot, but an actual working baseball dog!
While Jericho worked for the Miracle franchise for at least another year or more, he never made it into another team set, and never was celebrated posthumously in any baseball card product. Hopefully one day Topps does the right thing and creates a dedicated baseball dogs insert set in Topps Pro Debut or Bowman product celebrating one of the funnest aspects to minor league baseball since Jericho first set paw on the field of the Miracle’s home stadium in 1990. Until then, I’ll enjoy the two cards of Jericho that I do own, and tell the story of the first Baseball Dog with Baseball Cards to anyone that’s willing to listen.
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M volleyball’s Logan Lednicky signed her first professional contract with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Houston, the organization announced Friday.
Staying in the Lone Star State, Lednicky joins the Houston based LOVB team after spearheading the Aggies to the program’s first national title. The opposite hitter etched her name in Texas A&M history, as she broke the program rally-scoring record for career kills concluding her four years with 1,686.
“I’m so excited for Logan [Lednicky] to start her professional career,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “Since taking over this program, it’s been our goal to help set up out athletes for the next step after college and seeing it come to fruition is incredible. Logan has developed every year she has been at Texas A&M and has all the skills necessary to succeed at the next level.”
The Sugar Land, Texas, native developed a well-rounded game throughout her four years but offensively is where she excelled. She recorded double-digit kills in 94 matches during her career, including 23 straight to conclude the 2025 campaign which led to a national crown.
Lednicky showed her versatility during her time in Aggieland, racking up 379 blocks which ranks 11th in program history and secured back-to-back 100-block seasons in her junior and senior campaigns. She also tacked on 808 digs which helped account for 28 career double-doubles.
Cementing herself as an all-time great for the program, she received a pair of AVCA Second Team All-America honors, was a four-time All-SEC and All-Region selection, AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist, NCAA Tournament Team recipient, NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player and five-time SEC weekly award winner.
The pin hitter got her international career started this past summer, as she received her first senior-national team call up for the United States and was named to the Volleyball Nation’s League roster for the opening two weeks in Brazil and Serbia. She competed in seven of the eight matches over the two weeks, tallying 43 points on 38 kills and five blocks, while adding 26 digs.
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Registration is currently underway for the Pipestone JO volleyball program.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2026.
The JO volleyball program is currently conducting a registration drive. (Contributed graphic)
The JO program, for girls entering third grade through high school, has been in existence for nearly 20 years, offering competitive tournaments at PAS Gymnasium.
The school district supports and works with the program to keep registration cost affordable.
The season will run from March 7-April 19.
Registration cost is $200 per player.
For information, log onto the following link: pipestoneareajovolleyball.sportngin.com/register/form/670029690. There is a prompt to create an account for your player(s).
MUSKEGON TWP. — Syann Fairfield recently got her elementary education degree from Ferris State University.
Now at age 22, Fairfield is now the new Reeths-Puffer varsity head volleyball coach.
But despite her age, her volleyball background is strong.
As a three-year starter at Ferris State, Fairfield helped the Bulldogs win two regular season championships and two conference tournament championships in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC).
About hiring Fairfield, Rockets Athletic Director Cliff Sandee said, “Syann has been successful in every aspect of life, as a standout student-athlete at North Muskegon and Ferris State.”
“More impressively, she has routinely made people around her more successful,” Sandee also said.
“Her playing experience at Ferris State and her coaching experience at Inside Out and at Muskegon Community College has prepared Syann to lead right away,” Sandee continued to say.
Sandee said, “She will develop champions in all areas of life.
As a young first-time varsity coach, Fairfield is eager to take on a team that’s going to have a lot of very young talent.
Her predecessor, Justin Birr, resigned in the fall at the end of last season.
Fairfield said that parents and other coaches in the area asked her to apply for the Rockets job when it got posted, and that she decided to do it.
Fairfield also said that she was also seeking to gain experience of interviewing for a high school coaching job.
But as she learned more about Reeths-Puffer and its volleyball program, she became more excited about the job and was thrilled when she got the job.
“I figured, why not,” Fairfield said. “Let’s go through the process and get the feel of things.”
“But the more I talked to people and learned about the school, it just seemed like the place to be,” Fairfield said.
Fairfield also said, “I work hard and go all-in on everything I do, and I am ready to tackle it!”
“I know it’s not common for people to take a chance on someone who just graduated a few weeks ago from college, but I think they could see my passion and what my goals would be for the program for the next few years,” Fairfield said.
She stood out as a four-year player on North Muskegon’s volleyball team and graduated in 2021.
She attained all-state honors in her sophomore, junior and senior years, helping North Muskegon win two district championships and one conference title.
In 2021, she helped North Muskegon win a state championship in girls soccer in 2021, showing that she had talents in more than one sport.
BOZEMAN — Five legendary athletes and Montana State University’s president during an era of athletics and university-wide success enter the Bobcat Athletics Hall of Fame in January.
President Waded Cruzado, who led Montana State University from 2009-25, headlines a highly distinguished class of inductees. The list features Elvis Akpla (football, 2009-11), Jasmine Hommes Moeakiola (women’s basketball, 2012-16), Dan Johnson (track and field, 2004-08), Cody Kirk (football, 2010-13) and Cristian Soratos (cross country/track and field, 2012-15).
The ceremony is Jan. 16 at the Strand Union Building on the MSU campus. The evening begins with a social at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the inductions. Purchase tickets here.
The 2025-26 inductees:
President Waded Cruzado — Montana State University’s president during a period of historic growth and success … her support and vision drove the reconfiguration of the Bobcat Athletics physical plant, including the Sonny Holland End Zone, the Bobcat Athletic Complex, the Kennedy-Stark Athletic Center and renovations in Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
Elvis Akpla, football — 2011 third-team All-America and first-team All-Big Sky, second in MSU history in career and single-season receiving yards, third in career touchdown catches, eighth in career receptions.
Jasmine Hommes Moeakiola, women’s basketball — 2016 Big Sky MVP, first-team All-Big Sky … 2015 second-team All-Big Sky … sixth in MSU history in scoring, seventh in blocked shots.
Dan Johnson, track and field — One of the most productive long-sprint athletes in MSU men’s track and field history … he won Big Sky 400-meter championships indoors in 2007 and 2008 and outdoors in 2008 and 2009.
Cody Kirk, football — First-team All-Big Sky in 2011, second-team in 2013 … MSU’s all-time leader in touchdowns with 47 and second with 3,422 career yards … his 666 career rushes are also second in school history.
Cristian Soratos, track and field/cross country — Two-time All-America (2015 mile, 2015 1,500) … 2015 Big Sky Championships outstanding performer indoor and outdoor … four-time Big Sky indoor champion (2015 800, mile; 2014/2015 distance medley relay), three-time Big Sky outdoor champion (2015 800 and 1,500; 2014 1,500)
MSU director of athletics Leon Costello also announced that Ben and Sue Schmitt, long-time supporters and volunteers with deep family ties to Bobcat Athletics, will be presented the second Torleif Aasheim Service Award. Both MSU grads, the Schmitts not only support Bobcat teams but have long aided individual staff members, coaches and student-athletes.
The Ubly Bearcats made their first appearance at Kellogg Arena since 2007.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Ubly’s Waverly Hagen was named All-Tribune Player of the Year.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Ubly’s Rachel Sorenson was named the All-Thumb and All-Tribune Coach of the Year.
(C) Quad N Productions/Courtesy of Thumb Sportswriters Association
Bad Axe’s Courtney Copeland on serve.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Cass City’s Karsyn Ignash on serve.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Ubly’s Weaverly Hagen (11) and Addison Weber (1) attempt to block Owen-Gage’s Jessica Bowers.
Eric Young/Huron Daily Tribune/Eric Young/Dream Bigger Media
Cass City’s Skylar Ignash on serve.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Deckerville’s Libby Tank was named to the All-Thumb second team.
Thumb Sportswriters Association/Courtesy Photo
Ubly’s Suzanne Smigielski on serve.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
Ubly’s Addison Weber on serve.
Tom Greene/Huron Daily Tribune
The Huron Daily Tribune has announced its 2025 All-Tribune volleyball teams. The teams were carefully selected by sportswriter Tom Greene and were considered through all-conference, all-Thumb and all-state selections.
Here are the All-Tribune teams:
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All-Tribune Volleyball Teams
Player of the Year
With a second-place finish for All-Thumb Player of the Year, and helping the Bearcats advance to Kellogg Arena for the first time since 2007, Ubly’s Waverly Hagen is named All-Tribune Player of the Year.
Coach of the Year
Leading the Ubly Bearcats to their first Kellogg Arena appearance since 2007, along with an undefeated record in the Big Thumb Black Division and selection as All-Thumb Coach of the Year, Ubly’s Rachel Sorenson is named All-Tribune Coach of the Year.
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Team of the Year
With their first Kellogg Arena appearance since 2007, the Ubly Bearcats are named All-Tribune Team of the Year.
Adel-DeSoto-Minburn senior Elise Coghlan recently played in her final volleyball season of her high school career, hitting many achievements, but is leaving an encouraging message for the younger girls who will be carrying the program from here on out.
Coghlan is leaving a legacy behind for Tigers volleyball, as she is now sixth all-time in school history with 601 Assists in a season, and has a total of 1,273 assists over her four-year career. In addition, Coghlan concluded the season with 57 kills, 181 digs, and 32 blocks. As she’ll be graduating in the spring, Coghlan wants to remind the girls to never forget who they are.
“Just being yourself and showing your actual personality, and just being friends with everyone honestly.”
ADM finished the season with a 23-9 overall record (7-1; 2nd inside the Raccoon River Conference) and fell to Dallas Center-Grimes in the Class 4A Region 4 Championship on October 28th.
