Aug. 13, 2009

On a cool April night in Reno, Nevada, Matt Daley stepped out of the manager's office in the visiting clubhouse at Aces Ballpark and hit one of the many speed dials on his cell phone.

Matt's dad, John, was on the other line from a hotel in Chicago.

Daley dispensed with the pleasantries and got right to the point. His words were met with a strange response: Dead air.

"For the first time, my dad was speechless," the 27-year-old pitcher recalled with still a hint of shock in his voice. The 2004 Bucknell University graduate tried and succeeded at what his dad and grandfather opted not to try: He became a major league baseball player.

Daley's dad and grandfather were drafted but chose to get real jobs and begin raising families.

Daley's lifelong dream was realized when then Colorado Springs manager Tom Runnells (now the Colorado Rockies' bench coach) told him of his promotion from Triple-A to the majors.

It took six years, 226 minor-league appearances and dozens of bus rides to places most baseball fans have never heard of before fantasy became reality.

For the complete article by Tom Housenick of the Sunbury (Pa.) Daily Item click here