BEST LEFTY
Washington Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin was in Oklahoma City on Friday to accept the Warren Spahn Award
Patrick and Jen Corbin knew right away who to call.
Joe Ancone, Jen's father, would be elated with the good news. Patrick, a left-hander for the Washington Nationals, had just received word he was the Warren Spahn Award winner.
But the award being presented in Oklahoma City is even better.
Ancone was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base for nearly five years, retiring in 1994 and moving back to Syracuse, New York. Two of his three daughters— including Jen—were born on the base.
“It was nice coming back,” Ancone said. “She wanted to go back and see where she was born and everything. I said, `Well, I've gotta tell you the hospital is now a parking lot.'”
Patrick accomplished a lot last season. After signing a big free- agent contract with t he Nationals, he became a key part of the World Series run with a dominant regular season that featured 238 strike outs. In the playoffs, he was a starter and bullpen work horse, even winning Game 7 of the World Series as a reliever against the Astros.
Patrick accepted his Warren Spahn Award — given annually to baseball's best left-handed pitcher — on Friday.
But perhaps the best part was creating a homecoming of sorts for his family.
“It's pretty special,” Patrick said. “We had lunch earlier today, and he was able to see a lot of friends who are still living here. So, pretty special for him to be able to enjoy that and for myself and Jen to be a part of.”
Patrick, a New York native, had never been to Oklahoma. Jen had not been since her family moved back to Syracuse. She was 2 at that time.
Ancone — who has returned multiple times to fish with buddies — arrived on Wednesday to meet up with old friends. He arrived a day ahead of the Corbins, which meant he had more time to explore his old stomping grounds.
He remembered Bricktown before it was booming. He recalled All-Sports Stadium. An old friend drove him to where he used to live in Midwest City.
Everything had changed so much.
“It's just come a long way,” Ancone said. “It's so built up so nicely.”
But for Ancone, the reward of the trip was watching Patrick receive the award. Patrick, 30, was the big pitching prize in last offseason's free agency, signing a sixyear ,$140- million contract.
He delivered, going 7-2 after the All-Star Break to help the Nationals rally to the Wild Card Game. They then went on a magical run, with Corbin making three starts and five relief appearances.
“At that point, you're just trying to win,” Patrick said.
And win he did, both as a player and son-in-law.
“He's been winning small things, but this is his biggest individual award ,” An cone said. “Yeah, the World Series, he's won player of the month, chosen to the All-Star team or something.
“But to be singled out of the National League and American League players, it's very big.”