Mackay: Lessons can be learned on the baseball diamond

With the baseball season in full swing (pun intended!), it's time to salute America's pastime. And in recognition of April being National Humor Month, I'm sharing some of my favorite classic stories from the big leagues, along with the important business lessons from these real-life events.

A rookie sat next to his manager and watched New York Yankees great Roger Maris gun down a runner trying to go from first to third.

"Kid, you won't see a throw like that again in a million years."

Three innings later, Maris duplicated the feat. The rookie turned to the manager and said, "Time sure flies up here in the majors."

Johnny Blanchard sat in the Yankees' clubhouse crying after learning he had been traded to Kansas City. Concerned for his teammate, Mickey Mantle sat down and tried to console Blanchard.

"Don't take it so hard, John. Just think, in Kansas City you're going to get a chance to play."

"Hell, I can't play, Mick. That's why I'm crying."

On July 15, 1973, the California Angels' Nolan Ryan pitched his second career no-hitter, a 6-0 shutout vs. the Tigers in Detroit.

The "Ryan Express" was so on that day that Norm Cash came to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning and resorted to using a piano leg to get a hit. Home plate umpire Ron Luciano, nearly falling down laughing at this ruse, made him use a real bat.

Cash flew out to left field, ending the game.

When Joe Pepitone first came to the Cubs, he told manager Leo Durocher that he was fast enough to steal a base. So, the first time Pepitone reached first base, Durocher decided to test him. First-base coach Peanuts Lowrey flashed the sign to Pepitone — a wink. Pepitone didn't budge. So Lowry winked again. Still, Pepitone stood pat. Again, Lowrey winked. This time, Pepitone responded. He blew Lowrey a kiss.

Legendary manager Casey Stengel had a unique usage of the English language that became known as "Stengelese." He once said, "I've always heard that it couldn't be done, but sometimes it don't always work." And he's actually right. Stengel once sat on the board of directors of a California bank. According to the Wall Street Journal, Casey described his responsibilities this way: "There ain't nothing to it. You go into the fancy meeting room and you just sit there and never open your yap. As long as you don't say nuthin', they don't know whether you're smart or dumb."