Kusatsu, Japan – My third year at Michigan State was the year things really came together for me. In 13 starts everything went right, my record was 7-1, my ERA dropped down to 2.09, 94 batters were sat down and my 0.95 WHIP & 3.0 WAR were amongst my new entries in the Persians single season record books.

My senior year was a momentous year all round, my record perhaps wasn’t quite as good at 6-4 and the ERA poked north of three but I broke the 100 K mark and kept my WHIP below one. Outside of college the League of the Rising Sun which had formed out of the ashes of the NPB that collapsed as I left for Pontiac was in serious financial trouble. The fanatical Japanese fans had never really taken to the league, unhappy that their best players now all headed for the PEBA and they were left watching a rag tag collection of journeymen of all colours & creeds. Now though the PEBA bought a controlling stake in my final year (2010) and revamped the league including a new ruling that each LRS team must not have more than four gaijin, non-Japanese nationals, on their rosters. This seemed to be working and the early signs in the first year was that the fanatical fans were ready to embrace this incarnation. I wished I could return home and lead the revival but I was committed to the PEBA draft now and indeed was predicted to go in the top rounds. I consoled myself that at least I now had a safety net, if I didn’t make a go of the PEBA there would be several LRS teams casting an envious eye in my direction.

I had left Michigan State with a 20-14 record from 50 starts with a college ERA of 2.96. I had struckout 369 hapless students while only giving 42 a free pass in 322 innings pitched. Thirteen years later many of the career records I had set for the Persians still stood including innings pitched, wins, WAR, K’s, BB/9 and K/9. Only now a young man called Jorge Morales who graduated last year has emerged to challenge my records. I always have been a quiet person and couldn’t face being there in the arena on draft day so against everyone’s wishes I returned to the family home in Japan to wait for news with my parents.

It was a long tiring day even though my father who was acting as my de facto agent tried to screen most of the friends that had gathered in front of the TV. Tension grew as the time of the draft start drew near, the time difference not helping but we were underway and everyone settled down with crossed fingers. I secretly hoped that Kalamazoo would draft me, I had seen a lot of their games during my college days. They had sounded me out but would only commit to drafting me in the second round as they had their eye on an outfielder in the first round. My pride had wanted a first round selection but I would settle for a second round selection I supposed.

My friends had just been cheering when catcher Jason Corbett was selected 7^th overall as we all knew Jason. He was out of cross state rivals University of Michigan and a good bloke but the room fell silent when the phone rang. A path to the phone was cleared for me and the room fell silent as I answered it. Everyone stared expectantly “My name is Sir John Fowler” said the voice on the line “I’m the Owner of the London Underground, we feel you could be the answer to our pitching and as long as you’ll sign we’d like to select you with the 14^th overall pick?” I could hardly do more than croak “Yes.”

I turned to the room that was waiting with bated breath and announced

“I’m off to London”

My career was about to start ….