Ed, the shortest of two sons, lived in New Rochelle, New York during the 1950s - the era of Yankee baseball domination. His parent’s TV was reserved during the world series to watch the likes of Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra at bat. But Ed was more impressed by Whitey Ford and Don Larsen on the mound.

To prepare Ed for little league, his step father built a pitcher’s mound in the backyard and painted a circle on the brick façade of the house. If the sun shined and school was out, Ed was on the mound. He threw the ball tirelessly against the wall until most pitches hit the inside of the circle. It did not take long for his step father to give him the nickname, “Steady Eddie.”

Being short and of slight build, Ed knew his fast ball would not be enough for him to become a little league pitcher. He wanted to start throwing curve balls but his step father told him that the snapping of his wrist could permanently hurt his throwing arm. The screw ball and slider were also off limits. But that did not deter him from developing something different.

Ed watched two Washington Senator relief pitchers on TV use sidearm and submarine deliveries and knew that those were the pitches he had to master. He practiced both in his backyard and then with some friends at his school ballfield. Their reaction told him he was ready for the little league tryouts.

He was selected but so were all of his friends. They played whichever position their coach suggested, but Ed wanted to pitch. The taller, more developed pitchers got the starting and strategic relief roles leaving Ed on the bench. He never complained knowing he would get bigger and better with time and he would get his chance.

That chance came at a summer camp in Maine. He once again started on the bench watching the bigger boys on the mound. But, with only three games left to play, one pitcher was injured and the other was sick. Ed walked onto the mound filled with confidence and threw several strike outs with his sidearm and submarine deliveries. He was the winning pitcher for the last three games.

Ed brings that same level of determination, patience and focus to his interviews and crafting of meaningful stories.