Skip Bertman was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 2006. His speech at the ceremony in Lubbock, Tex. was memorable for his description of his love of baseball.

“A guy laid out a baseball diamond in 1845. His name was Alexander Cartwright. The distance between the bases was 90 feet – same as it is today, of course. It’s the best distance there is.

“The fastest guy in the world can’t beat out a groundball hit to the shortstop – he’s going to be out by half-a-step. But if he bobbles the ball or he delays, he’ll be safe by a step-and-a-half. If you’re at first base and there’s a base hit to right field, it’s a bang-bang play at third base. If you’re at second base with a base hit to centerfield, it’s a bang-bang play at home plate.

“It takes the same amount of time to steal with a 12-foot lead off of first base and dive into second, as it does for the pitcher to release the ball, the catcher to catch it, and throw it down to the second baseman.

“There’s no play in sports that is greater in a symmetrical ballpark than a ball hit into the gap, then the two guys go out in the double cut-off, the ball is relayed and the guy tears for third base, and the ball and the runner hit at exactly at the same time. It’s the greatest game in the world.”

The Baseball Collegian is proud to present the wisdom of coaching legend Skip Bertman for coaches and players to help take their game to the same championship level as he did in his coaching career at LSU and Miami.