08/16/2026
⚾️ STORY TIME (Rated - PG)… We lost the great, Skip Bertman yesterday.
He changed the game. He had a dynasty. He outsmarted his way past everyone, and left his historic mark. Ron Frazier, had both Skip Bertman & Ron Polk on his staff. They became the greatest friends. Ron Polk started “BIG TIME” college baseball, Skip Bertman took it another step. They beat the snot out of each other, competed at the highest levels, and brought in record crowds to watch all the history they were making.
I heard stories of how they did things. How they recruited, how they practiced. How they coached, but was always amazed of how glowing they talked about each other. Then again, they were the greatest of friends.
There is a story of them that I love telling. I was in school, Polk had retired (before he went to Georgia & took his third team to Omaha). Polk was working in the State athletic department, Skip still coaching, about to retire & become the LSU athletic director.
Saturday game at, “The Dude”, long rain delay rolls in, here comes Skip in full uniform, walking through the empty grand stand, up to the press box. He’s hunting for his best bud, Ron Polk. Polk is talking to someone, door opens, Skip & Ron both light up, & immediately look like two middle school girls, sharing all the gossip. They are all alone, talking non-stop. No one is bothering them. They are just heh-hawing it up, having the best time.
Well a beautiful Mississippi State Diamond Girl walks by, Skip is very easily distracted by the 20-something co-ed. Polk is in mid-sentence of his storytelling. Skip leans in to Polk, whispers something quietly in his ear. They are the only two in the entire press box who can hear what he is saying. Both start dying laughing, & Polk elbows Skip in the ribs shouting out, while continuing belly laughing, “You ol” dirty Jewish, b^$t*rd!”
They laughed & laughed.
They went back to talking like two junior high girls in study hall.
⚾️ STORY TIME… We lost the great, Skip Bertman yesterday.
He changed the game. He had a dynasty. He outsmarted his way past everyone, and left his historic mark. Ron Frazier, had both Skip Bertman & Ron Polk on his staff. They became the greatest friends. Ron Polk started “BIG TIME” college baseball, Skip Bertman took it another step. They beat the snot out of each other, competed at the highest levels, and brought in record crowds to watch all the history they were making.
I heard stories of how they did things. How they recruited, how they practiced. How they coached, but was always amazed of how glowing they talked about each other. Then again, they were the greatest of friends.
There is a story of them that I love telling. I was in school, Polk had retired (before he went to Georgia & took his third team to Omaha). Polk was working in the State athletic department, Skip still coaching, about to retire & become the LSU athletic director.
Saturday game at, “The Dude”, long rain delay rolls in, here comes Skip in full uniform, walking through the empty grand stand, up to the press box. He’s hunting for his best bud, Ron Polk. Polk is talking to someone, door opens, Skip & Ron both light up, & immediately look like two middle school girls, sharing all the gossip. They are all alone, talking non-stop. No one is bothering them. They are just heh-hawing it up, having the best time.
Well a beautiful Mississippi State Diamond Girl walks by, Skip is very easily distracted by the 20-something co-ed. Polk is in mid-sentence of his storytelling. Skip leans in to Polk, whispers something quietly in his ear. They are the only two in the entire press box who can hear what he is saying. Both start dying laughing, & Polk elbows Skip in the ribs shouting out, while continuing belly laughing, “You ol” dirty Jewish, b^$t*rd!”
They laughed & laughed.
They went back to talking like two junior high girls in study hall.
