Cedar Rapids has big postseason baseball presence

OK, the headline is a bit of an exaggeration. Or is it?

There certainly is a major Cedar Rapids influence in the National League baseball playoffs, at least off the field.

The National League Championship Series-bound Los Angeles Dodgers' controlling owner is Mark Walter, a graduate of Cedar Rapids Jefferson High.

If the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals in Wednesday's deciding fifth game of their NLDS series, it will be a Jeff-Wash clash in the NLCS.

Cedar Rapids Washington High grad Bryan Stroh is the Pirates' vice president/general counsel. Last year, he negotiated a 6-year contract for Pirates star outfielder Andrew McCutcheon. This year, the Pirates had their first winning season since1992.

As luck would have it, I wrote stories about Walter and Stroh last year. Here's the one on Walter, who I have yet to interview but would like to one day. Here's the one on Stroh, who I did get on the phone and could not have been more cooperative.