Thoughts on my friend John Baggs
Written By Chris Long

(I started this in the 'comments' section of an online newspaper article posted today about the far-too-soon passing of a friend. I ended up sending it in as a letter to the editor. Who knows if they'll use it, but I wanted the words to get out somehow.)

As a member of the Duluth media for eight years working at KDLH-TV, I had the pleasure of covering Coach Baggs' Saints teams. Beyond that, I had the honor of calling John Baggs my friend.

I read the terrific article Jon Nowacki wrote recently, which perfectly summed up John's relationship with the media.

I agree wholeheartedly that wins, trophies and achievements are what kept us focused on Saints Baseball, but it was something completely different that kept us rooting for them.

John Baggs built as perfect a team environment you could imagine, and that has nothing to do with wins and losses. Saints players are driven, respectful and hold very dearly their much-discussed family atmosphere. To watch his teams play, or just even practice, was to see athletes giving their absolute best for their team. Saints players don't play hard just for themselves. They do it for each other, for the players who came before them and especially... for their coach. That also applies to their work in the community, classroom and in growing into contribuiting members of society. They demand the best from one another, and that makes them all better people.

Beyond that, it's been said often that Coach Baggs' players trancend the concept of team and function more like a family. Anybody who plays sports wants to win, but everybody who's been on a team can look at the Saints and see their bonds reach so much farther than the playing field. I am still friends with several players who were on the Saints teams when I was in Duluth, and I've always been amazed at the depth of their relationships. It's hard to describe, but easy to spot when they get together - even many years removed from their playing days. They are teammates for four years at St. Scholastica, but members of the Saints family forever.

As I try to fight through the sadness of John's passing, I can't help but think of the message he sent his teams onto the ballfield with each and every game.

The Saints always gather and shout "Hoka Hey" when they take the field. It's a phrase Sioux warriors shouted as they went into battle. The literal message is, "today is a good day to die". Coach Baggs used the expression to signify as long as a player prepares the best he can, gives the maximum effort and leaves everything he has on the field... the result of the game is secondary. Victory and success aren't measured in winning and losing, but in doing everything one can to try to win. If you lose having done that, then it was simply "a good day to die."

As sports fans in the Northland know, Coach Baggs' teams certainly won more than they lost... but even in their losses, the Saints carried the virtue of 'Hoka Hey'.

Coach Baggs was taken from family, friends and baseball far too soon, but John's memory will live forever in all of us. While the record books prove he was a great baseball coach, those who were lucky enough to know him can attest he was also a great person.

He worked hard, loved his family and was a cherished friend.

Hoka Hey, coach.