The Alito Court: A rare interview with the influential Supreme Court justice

October 4, 2026 / 3:00 PM EDT / CBS News

Walking across the gritty New Jersey ball field for the first time since he played here as a boy, Samuel Alito couldn't help but stop to analyze the playing surface.

The pebbles were bigger back then, he said, the field more uneven. These sounded like minor details for anyone to notice, but Alito saw something more. A rougher surface, he explained, makes it harder for infielders to field ground balls.

"I played second base. And my best friend Ronnie played shortstop. He had a stronger arm, so we were the double-play combination," Alito said, before pausing to correct himself with a laugh. "In my fantasy, we did it all the time. But maybe we did it once or twice."

For a young Alito, baseball was his passion, and he was no fair-weather fan. His beloved Phillies were among the worst teams in the major leagues.

"It's a sign of bad character if you abandon your team just because they're having a bad streak," he said. "Some people would think I could be quite stubborn, but I've stuck with the Phillies through thick and thin. Hope springs eternal."

It's been 60…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/world/