There was a time when Mahoning Valley Scrappers pitcher Blake Barker downplayed the baseball accolades of his father.

Barker would hear the tales told by family and friends, and while impressed, Barker thought that there was maybe a bit of exaggeration to the stories.

“I mean, I thought it was great and all, but I thought they were just telling me stories to make my father look cool,” Barker said. “As I got older and I started going to (Cleveland Indians) games with my dad, and we’d be sitting there and guys like Mike Hargrove would start telling me stories. I was like, ‘Wow, this is real.'”

Real, indeed.

Barker is the son of legendary Indians pitcher Len Barker, who enjoyed a 12-year career in the big leagues. Len played for Texas, Cleveland, Atlanta and Milwaukee. He is best known fo

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