Introduction to Park Bench - Baldwin City Blues of Park Bench

The Baldwin City Blues are a summer collegiate wood bat baseball team based in Baldwin City, Kansas, United States. The Blues are a member of the Mid-Plains League.

Blues Baseball got its start as a neighborhood coach pitch team playing in the Johnson Country Parks and Recreation League. Preaching fundamentals, team commitment and good sportsmanship, Blues Baseball soon became one of the most well-coached and competitive teams in the area. Coach Faddis saw the potential his players had and developed a baseball program that is arguably the most successful in Johnson County history. With over 50 tournament titles, three State Championships and three World Series crowns to their credit, Blues Baseball set out test the players skills in the historic Ban Johnson League in 2012.

The Blues wasted little time in gaining the respect of established Ban Johnson teams. With a roster dominated by recent high school graduates, Blues Baseball became the youngest team in the 85-year history of the league to win the title. The team also became the only first-year team to accomplish this feat. Along the way, Blues Baseball also shattered the single-season winning percentage mark by going 35-1 during the summer. As a result, 10 players were chosen to play in the annual Ban Johnson All Star Game at Kaufman Stadium in July 2012. Four players were also recognized for their outstanding performances by garnering the leagues Defensive Player of the Year (CJ Faddis), Top Relief Pitcher (Nick Kolarik), Wins by a Pitcher (Drew Noble) and Tournament MVP (Jake Wodtke).

Although Coach Faddis experienced a loss of over half his team to other collegiate summer leagues, Blues Baseball re-tooled for the 2013 Ban Johnson Summer season. Again stressing fundamentals, team cohesiveness and personal commitment Coach Faddis motivated the team to leave it all on the field. As a result, Blues Baseball put together a second consecutive championship season, winning the Ban Johnson regular season title with a record of 24-5. Along the way, Blues Baseball established yet another Ban Johnson record by being the only team ever to win the League during its first two years of play. Eight Blues players were recognized for their efforts by being selected to the All Star Game at Kauffman Stadium. Coach Faddis and Coach Moore were also selected by league managers and administrators.

In 2014, the Blues moved to Baldwin City, Kansas and helped establish the Mid-Plains League. Michael Moore was named General Manager and Chris Faddis named Team Manager. The team would call Baker University's Sauder Field its initial home in Baldwin City. Overcoming several key injuries, the Blues made the Cowdin Cup Playoffs in its first season in Baldwin City. The season also saw Baldwin City Blues and Kansas State University Catcher Tyler Moore hit a walk off grand slam in the inaugural Mid Plains League All Star Game. With the bases loaded and the Mid Plains All Stars down 41 against the visiting Kansas City Men's Amateur Baseball All Stars Moore sent a 11 fastball 390 feet over the scoreboard in left field. The theatrical victory helped place the Mid Plains League on the Summer Collegiate Baseball landscape. Moore would go on to lead Kansas State in hitting the following season while winning numerous awards including being named All Big 12 Catcher and nominated for the Johnny Bench Award given to collegiate baseball's top Catcher.

The Blues have seen a number of current and former players either drafted or play professionally. Major League Baseball picks include: Clayton Henning 11th round 2012 (Tampa Bay Rays), Hayden Edwards 31st round (Kansas City Royals), Chase Rader 16th Round 2014 (Detroit Tigers), Matt Hall 6th Round 2015 (Detroit Tigers), Matt Eckelman 21st Round 2016 (Pittsburgh Pirates), Robert Calvano 38th Round 2016 (St. Louis Cardinals) and Ryan Wetzel 33rd Round 2016 (Washington Nationals). Players signing professional contracts include: Aaron Marshall 2016 Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League), Tyler Moore 2016 Kansas City T-Bones (American Association), Grant Arnold 2017 Hollywood Stars (Pecos League) and Jeremy Melvin 2017 Hollywood Stars (Pecos League).

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Early careerKanu was recruited into the West Ham United academy at the age of 11 after impressing in a trial game for Barking and Dagenham district. He appeared for the "Hammers" Under-21 team at the age of 15. In September 2016, following his release from West Ham, he underwent a trial with Manchester United's Under-18 side and scored twice in a match against Middlesbrough. A permanent move failed to materialize, however, and Kanu later revealed he rejected an offer from the Premier League club in order to play senior football regularly.

Aldershot TownOn 7 October 2016, National League side Aldershot Town completed the signing of Kanu on an amateur contract after he had impressed during training sessions with the club. Upon signing, he was reunited with James Rowe, the club's assistant manager who he had previously worked with at West Ham. He made his debut the following day, coming on as a late substitute for Bernard Mensah in a 20 win over Solihull Moors at the Recreation Ground. In doing so, at the age of 16 years and 308 days, Kanu became the youngest player ever to feature for the "Shots" in a league match. He scored his first professional goal in the following match, netting in a 21 FA Cup defeat at home to Eastbourne Borough. Kanu's first league goal came on 12 November when he scored the opening goal in a 33 draw at Lincoln City. Upon scoring, Kanu broke another record by becoming the club's youngest ever goalscorer in league competition, aged 16 years and 343 days. On 5 December, he signed his first professional contract with the club on his 17th birthday, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal. He received his first ever red card the following year, when he was dismissed for two bookable offences in a 10 win over Dover Athletic on 17 April. Kanu ultimately scored five goals in 33 appearances across all competitions as Gary Waddock's side fell just short of promotion at the end of the 201617 season, losing out to Tranmere Rovers in the play-off semi-finals.

Peterborough UnitedOn 1 August 2017, Kanu signed a three-year deal with League One side Peterborough United for an undisclosed fee. He made his English Football League debut for the club on 5 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for Junior Morias in a 21 win over Plymouth Argyle at London Road. Speaking at the end of the month, Peterborough manager Grant McCann said that he was very pleased with Kanu's progress. However, McCann was sacked and replaced by Steve Evans in February 2018 and Kanu had to wait until the last day of the 201718 season to make his first start, featuring in a 20 defeat at Portsmouth. Kanu made a total of 28 appearances during the campaign and Evans later announced that he would be made available to leave the club on loan the following season. Kanu scored his first goal for the "Posh" in an 20 win over Northampton Town in an EFL Trophy tie on 3 September 2019.

On 28 June 2018, Kanu joined League Two side Port Vale on a season-long loan deal. On 29 September, he came off the bench to make his first league appearance at Vale Park and scored his first ever goal in the Football League with a header seven minutes into injury-time to secure a 11 draw with Exeter City. However, he started just three games and made a further four substitute appearances thereafter and was recalled to Peterborough on 3 January 2019.

On 4 January 2019, Kanu joined National League side Boreham Wood on a "long-term" loan deal; "Wood" manager Luke Garrard said that he was "very excited" to bring Kanu to Meadow Park. He made his debut the following day, opening the scoring in a 44 draw at Dagenham & Redbridge. He ended the 201819 season with four goals in 19 appearances for Boreham Wood.

He signed a new deal with Peterborough on 7 February 2020, which would keep him at the club until summer 2023; manager Darren Ferguson said that "I think he's got potential, so it's important we tied him down." He scored one goal in ten games during the 201920 season, which was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England, and was one of ten players to be taken off furlough in order to take part in one-on-one training with Ferguson.

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Earl of Macclesfield is a title that has been created twice. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1679 in favour of the soldier and politician Charles Gerard, 1st Baron Gerard. He had already been created Baron Gerard, of Brandon in the County of Suffolk, in 1645, and was made Viscount Brandon, of Brandon in the County of Suffolk, at the same time as he was given the earldom. These titles are also in the Peerage of England. Lord Macclesfield was the great-grandson of the distinguished judge Sir Gilbert Gerard, Master of the Rolls from 1581 to 1594. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second Earl. He was involved in the Rye House Plot of 1683, was sentenced to death but later pardoned by the King. On his death without legitimate issue in 1701 the titles passed to his younger brother, the third Earl. He had earlier represented Yarmouth, Lancaster and Lancashire in the House of Commons. When he died in 1702 the titles became extinct.

William Dorington or Dorrington, Colonel of the King's Royal Irish Regiment of Foot Guards, was created Earl of Macclesfield in the Jacobite Peerage in or about 1716. The title, such as it was, became extinct in 1841.

The second creation came in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1721 when the noted lawyer Thomas Parker, 1st Baron Parker, was made Viscount Parker, of Ewelm in the County of Oxford, and Earl of Macclesfield, in the County Palatine of Chester. He was Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench from 1710 to 1718 and Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain from 1718 to 1725. Parker had already been created Lord Parker, Baron of Macclesfield, in the County Palatine of Chester, in 1716. This title is also in the Peerage of Great Britain. In contrast to the barony the viscountcy and earldom were created with remainder, in default of male issue, to his daughter Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Heathcote, 1st Baronet of Hursley Park, and her issue male. In 1725 Lord Macclesfield was convicted of corruption and forced to pay a 30,000 fine. He was succeeded by his son George, the second Earl, who was a distinguished astronomer and served as President of the Royal Society for many years.

On George's death the titles passed to his son Thomas, the third Earl. He had sat as Member of Parliament for Newcastle under Lyme, Oxfordshire and Rochester. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the fourth Earl. He was a prominent politician and served as President of the Board of Agriculture from 1816 to 1818. When he died the titles passed to his younger brother, the fifth Earl. He was succeeded by his son, the sixth Earl. He had represented Oxfordshire in the House of Commons as a Conservative. He was succeeded by his grandson, the seventh Earl. He was the son of George Augustus Parker, Viscount Parker, eldest son of the sixth Earl. Lord Macclesfield was Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire from 1954 to 1963. As of 2010update the titles are held by his grandson, the ninth Earl, who succeeded his father in 1992.

Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, first husband of the Duchess of Cornwall, is the son of Derek Henry Parker-Bowles (who assumed his mother's maiden surname of Bowles), grandson of Reverend the Hon. Algernon Robert Parker, third son of the sixth Earl. Consequently, he is in distant remainder to the earldom and its subsidiary titles. Another member of the family was the Right Reverend Wilfrid Parker (18831966), son of the Hon. Cecil Thomas Parker, second son of the sixth Earl. He served as Bishop of Pretoria (1933-1950).

The family seat of the Parker family is Shirburn Castle, near Oxford, but the castle and estate is held by the Beechwood Estates Company, the Macclesfield family estate management company. Following a long-running and acrimonious court battle, the ninth Earl was evicted from the family seat at the end of 2004.