Friendly Encounters: Jade Rhodes and Don Martukovich

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

After starring on the softball diamond at Auburn University, Jade Rhodes went undrafted by the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch). Undaunted, she earned a spot in the league and won a Rawlings Gold Glove for the 2018 season.

Rhodes played 2016-2019 in the NPF. With the last two NPF seasons cancelled, nobody knows what will hold for the league in the future. She has been an instructor in the past. Either way, I am sure Rhodes will continue her softball journey on some level.

Capturing a moment with Rhodes was Don Martukovich, avid softball fan and top notch photographer. I met Don through our mutual interest in softball. Don is known for posting hundreds (thousands?) of pictures on social media. Over the years, he has probably gotten pictures of every NPF player, as well as many collegiate players. Don doesn't take a ton of pictures with the athletes, but occasionally he will appear, as in the picture with Rhodes.

Don is a good guy and has helped me many times by identifying players in pictures I took. I missed a chance to actually meet Don several years ago when I made a road trip to see the Akron Racers. Hopefully, when the NPF returns, we will meet at a Cleveland Comets game. Maybe he will even consider a trip to Rosemont to see the Athletes Unlimited softball league. 

Jade Rhodes and Don Martukovich in Auburn, AL-February 2018.

Jade Rhodes-2018 NPF Rawlings Gold Glove Winner

After an outstanding collegiate career at Auburn, Jade Rhodes signed with the Pennsylvania Rebellion in the NPF. She joined the Scrapyard Dawgs in 2017 and signed with the Cleveland Comets this season. The slick fielding 1st baseman is also the daughter of former MLB pitcher Arthur Rhodes.

The Comets finished the 2018 season in last place with a record of 10-38. There wasn't much celebrating for fans, but Jade did provide a source of pride, when it was announced she won the Rawlings Gold Glove award. She is just the 3rd such winner of that award (along with AJ Andrews and Chelsea Goodacre).

Obviously any award from being the best is quite an accomplishment, but the Rawlings Gold Glove is especially significant, because only one player in the whole league wins it (unlike in the MLB when every position in each league wins a Gold Glove).  Despite Sammy Marshall of the Bandits being a finalist, I am very happy for Jade. It's certainly a significant achievement for her.

Aside from the personal importance, the Rawlings Gold Glove is a giant step for the NPF as a whole. It's a sign of recognition from Rawlings. The NPF is important enough to bestow such an honor.

It's also a big step for women's athletics. I have championed that cause for a while. These ladies are just as athletic and work just as hard as any man and they get paid a lot less (but that's another story). It's great to see this award expanded to include an NPF player. My hope (and that of NPF fans everywhere) is that the award will eventually be given to each position in the NPF,. but for now, I applaud the progress.

For her part, Jade is a quick-handed smooth 1st baseman. She is also a class act. While I am sure she is proud of the award, having to be part of a meet and greet, while two other teams play for the title had to be a bit of a letdown, but she was positive all throughout the night.

Congratulations to Jade, the Comets and the NPF. I think it is a sign of more good things to come.

Jade Rhodes and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2018.