Farmers Insurance & Little League Unite in the Name of Good Sportsmanship

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Old, wise message finds new baseball audience

'He's Just a Little Boy' poem being posted at Little League fields

By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com | 08/04/12 1:44 PM ET

It's an urgent message of civility that echoes through the ages, a plea for compassion that comes from an author beyond the grave. And against all odds, it resonates better than ever today. 

Joel McKinnon didn't immediately realize what he had stumbled upon when he found a poem called "He Is Just a Little Boy" posted at a Little League field. McKinnon simply took a picture of the poem and posted it to his Facebook page, and suddenly an entire movement blossomed around it. 

Now, McKinnon and his employer -- Farmers Insurance -- find themselves printing the inspirational poem onto signs and shipping them to fields around the country. Around 1,500 fields have requested copies of the poem, which urges spectators to take the feelings of players into account. 

"I was doing nothing more than what's already been done: Sharing the message," said McKinnon. "I've always been a fan of positive reinforcement. You don't push people down. You lift them up. You're not always going to win, and when you don't, there's a right way and a wrong way to handle it."

Kids, believe it or not, usually grasp that lesson on their own through experience and through the tutelage of their coaches. Parents sometimes get carried away, though, a phenomenon that's as true today as it was when Chaplain Bob Fox penned his poem sometime before World War II.

McKinnon said he believed the poem had been written sometime in the '20s or 30's, but its anti-heckling refrain bears ample currency today. The poem dramatizes the all-or-nothing stakes of competition and urges fans to watch the game politely lest they ruin the game for the kids.

Understanding Auto Insurance: Mom, The Chauffeur

“Mom, the shuttle bus driver.” Does that sound like you or someone you know? It may not be your “full-time job,” but if you have young children at home you probably take your turn at shuttling kids to and from after-school or weekend activities. You probably don’t even think about your auto insurance in this context but maybe you should — transporting kids (your own and others) comes with certain risks that could affect your insurance.

• Who’s responsible in an accident? — Drivers can be legally liable for passengers’ injuries — and most personal auto policies will extend coverage for injuries to passengers when you’re driving your own car.
• What’s typically covered? — Although most auto policies will cover your actions in a car that isn’t yours, many contain restrictions on the size and type of vehicle involved. So if you plan to rent or borrow a larger vehicle — such as a van to take the soccer team to an out-of-town match — call me so you can be sure you have the coverage you want.
• What if you’re driving someone else’s vehicle? — It may depend on the situation. Your personal auto insurance policies might not cover your legal liability if you cause an accident while you’re driving your employer’s or your neighbor’s vehicle (particularly if your neighbor’s car is available for your regular use). Teachers and coaches should use school district vehicles to transport students and players to and from events, rather than their personal vehicles. Finally, even if you are covered, if you have an accident in which several passengers are involved, medical and other costs could easily exceed the limits typical of most personal auto policies.