Scott McClain -- major league accomplishment

This man is in the golden years of his career as a pro baseball player. He is 36-years-old and his career is winding down.

As a pro he has batted more than 7,000 times and hit more than 360 home runs. Virtually all of his statistics have come in the minor leagues and Japan. He has played fewer games in the major leagues than years he has lived on earth.

He has been very good in the minor leagues but just never made it to the majors for any length of time. Guys like McClain usually have their season's end in September, especially when you play for the Giants minor league affiliate. The Giants are going young and don't really appear to need a 36-year-old rookie.

Well, against long odds McClain was called up to the majors. He started yesterday and hit his first major league home run. It was a great statement about the rewards of perseverance and professionalism. There is no way he would have been called up if he was a jerk.

When he got to the dugout after his home run nobody even acknowledged his accomplishment. At first he only got the old cold shoulder. He has been around long enough to know this old baseball trick. He waited his teammates out and was eventually mobbed with congratulations.

I'll tell you what, it took him a lot longer to hit it than it did for his teammates to congratulate him.