Sal Bando is watching the World Series as someone who's been there, done that.

He was the team captain during the Oakland A's three straight World Series titles from 1972-74.

The third baseman was also an all-star four times, and runner-up for most valuable player in 1971. Bando has been helping American Life League raise money for Campus for Life, envisioned as a national education center teaching pro-life leadership skills as well as philosophical, ethical, scientific, historical and cultural knowledge needed to be effective pro-life spokespersons. Bando spoke to Register correspondent Bob Horning.

You were raised Catholic. How did that affect your growing up?

I come from a blue-collar home in Cleveland, where my dad was a sub-contractor.

Religion was the foundation of our life. I remember my mother forcing me to watch Bishop Fulton Sheen on TV. I fought her every week but I always ended up enjoying the show.

The doctors told my parents they would never have kids, but they prayed to the Holy Spirit and ended up with me, my younger sister and my brother, Chris, who played for the Cleveland Indians for several years. My mom died in 1999, and my dad lives with Chris now.

Did you ever fall away from the faith?

I never doubted or drifted away, and felt that something was missing if I didn't go to Mass. It was often difficult to get to church when we would play Saturday night, then have to be to the ballpark early on Sunday for an afternoon game. I would have to say, though, that baseball was gradually becoming my god.

What changed that around?

In 1975, after we had won three world championships in a row, I got off to a slow start. When my slump continued, I was moved from third in the batting order to near the bottom. That was a blow to my ego, and it caused me to struggle more and put extra pressure on myself. The Baseball Chapel had started the year before, which was a voluntary meeting before games for players to have devotions. Because the guys knew I went to church every week, I was selected to be our chapel leader. The different speakers that came in began to get my attention. I soon realized that, sure, I was a believer, but not very committed.

I gave up trying to control things, and let God be God. I committed my life to the Holy Spirit. I gave my burdens to the Lord, and suddenly I was able to relax. My faith grew on a daily basis, and I wanted to glorify God. I got more balance in my life, so that instead of baseball being my whole life, it became just part of it. I went from having the vague desire to be a good Catholic, to actually making the dedication and daily commitment to becoming a good one.

You are involved with a number of Christian organizations and pro-life groups.

In 1977, I signed with the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent. My wife, Sandy, and I joined the board of Wisconsin Right to Life. I gave talks, and we hosted functions for fund raising. Now I am also on the board of Cardinal Stritch University and St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee. I am involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Legatus, and, most recently, became chairman of Battin’1000.

What is Battin’ 1000?

It is a fund-raiser for the American Life League's new Campus for Life. Our goal is to raise at least $1 million dollars for the campus, which will offer courses, online teaching, workshops, and pro-life resources. Battin’ 1000 is structured similar to the major leagues in that we have 30 teams in or near the big league cities, competing to raise the most money. The idea, as the name implies, is to have 1,000 people give $1,000 each (but no amount from anyone will be refused).

And you have endorsements from many ballplayers.

Yes — from 90 former and current players, managers, and owners. We have Hall of Fame players Gary Carter, Robin Yount and Sen. Jim Bunning; former managers Sparky Anderson and Tommy Lasorda; current managers Lou Piniella and Jim Boone; former commissioner of baseball Bowie Kuhn; Jerry Colangelo, chairman and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Tom Monaghan, who once owned the Detroit Tigers; also, retired broadcaster Ernie Harwell. These are men who are standing for life, even if it may cost them commercial endorsements or other income.

Most of them are not Catholic, right?

Most are evangelicals. They're not afraid to speak out, unlike a lot of us Catholics who sometimes sit on our hands. We are more private and reserved about our faith. We need to be more outspoken like them. If we don't stand up and voice our opinions or displeasures with things we see wrong, we will remain a silent majority.

How can we do that?

One way is to be more involved in issues like abortion, euthanasia, prayer in schools, the political process, and winning back the youth of today. Look to get active locally. We need to win there, and those victories will ripple out nationwide.

Our bishops need to be more vocal, too. That will get more of us stirred up and involved.

If they are trying to be politically correct, it won't work. They need to follow Church teaching and speak out as they try to follow God's will, the Lord will help him.

How has your relationship with Jesus changed since your playing days?

I am getting closer to the Lord, I continue to learn, and I am involved in Bible studies. I am learning to stop being his adviser and be his servant instead. That allows me to listen when he speaks. I want to finish the race in a good way — I want to be as close to the Lord as I can when my time comes.

Bob Horning is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.