Marlins manager nurtured his faith in New Jersey parish

Published: 2004-02-09

SOUTH AMBOY, N.J. (CNS) -- The morning of Jan. 25, before he was to be honored by the New Jersey Sportswriters Association as "Man of the Year," Jack McKeon did what he does virtually every day of his life -- he went to Mass. McKeon, who led the underdog Florida Marlins to the World Series title over the New York Yankees last November, grew up in South Amboy. He attended St. Mary Elementary School there and graduated from St. Mary High School, now called Cardinal McCarrick High School, before going on to a long and fruitful career in professional baseball. Last year, at the age of 72, he became the oldest manager to win a World Series title. He's getting ready to start another year with the Marlins, and he will continue to honor his faith, he said in an interview with The Catholic Spirit, Metuchen's diocesan newspaper. On Jan. 25, McKeon returned to St. Mary Church, the parish of his youth. Earlier, on Jan. 23, he spoke to spoke to students from his grade school and high school alma maters. He then went to Washington the same day to join his team at the White House to meet President Bush. That evening he returned to New Jersey for a benefit dinner for Cardinal McCarrick High School.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .