Oklahoma Christian University is all set to dedicate its new indoor facility to a late New York Yankee who helped rebuild its baseball program. The school announced Friday that it would dedicate the new Bobby Murcer Indoor Training Facility — a structure that represents the last step in the program’s revival — on Sept. 23, honoring the former Yankees outfielder and broadcaster who died of brain cancer in 2008.

Texas church member Anthony Vasquez got a “W’ this week in his major-league debut with the Seattle Mariners. The 24-year-old left-handed pitcher and his parents, Rudy and Lisa, are members of the Northside Church of Christ in San Antonio.

My recent Inside Story column on baseball drew a precious response from a reader. I thought about editing Darlene Larson’s e-mail but decided to share it in its unvarnished form.

Major League Baseball’s July 31 non-waiver trading deadline sent two players with Church of Christ ties to contending teams. Houston Astros center fielder Michael Bourn, a member of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ in Houston, was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Meanwhile, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Brad Ziegler, a member of the East Grand Church of Christ in Springfield, Mo., was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Two weeks ago, the Colorado Rockies called up one of the team’s more highly touted prospects: Rex Brothers. Brothers is a faithful Church of Christ member and former Lipscomb University star.

Major-league veteran Josh Willingham has a well-deserved reputation as a man of faith and character. That’s why it surprised some fans to read about Willingham blowing up at an umpire the other night in Kansas City. Perhaps even Willingham himself was surprised at his emotional reaction in the heat of a close ballgame.

“My whole career I was looking for a guy like Josh,” said Larry Hays, former coach of Lubbock Christian University and Texas Tech. “And now you’re here and it’s not doing me any good.” Texas Rangers star outfielder Josh Hamilton, his wife, Katie, and the soldout crowd in Lubbock Christian University’s McDonald Moody Auditorium erupted in laughter. Josh and Katie Hamilton spoke at LCU’s baseball program, titled “Heart and Soul of Baseball.” Hays hosted the program, balancing levity with gravitas in the hour-and-a-half long conversation.

The Oakland A’s Brad Ziegler and the Washington Nationals’ Josh Willingham, both faithful members of Churches of Christ, could be close to playing on the same team. Fox Sports reports that the A’s are in serious discussions to obtain Willingham from the Nationals.

In July 2006, I wrote an Inside Story column for The Christian Chronicle titled “For love of God, family and baseball.” I am reminded of that as the Texas Rangers play in their first World Series.

Church member Cecil Cooper, a former All-Star first baseman who lasted just one full season as Houston Astros manager, will interview for the Mariners’ managerial vacancy on Tuesday. Cooper, 60, guided the Astros to an 86-75 record in 2008, an improvement of 13 games from 2007. But he was fired on Sept. 22, 2009, with the Astros mired at 70-79. His overall record at the helm was 171-170.