Baseball is back.
It's not often one can reflect about the history of the game and how the past can intertwine into the present. Baseball is the American dream; a game that brings people together. I can think into my own past and remember how baseball was the one dream I always held.
It was an accident.
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Growing up I never watched sports, baseball included. I, like most 10-year-old kids, only cared about cartoons and what video game I could get my hands on. It was a simple life until I accidentally changed the channel one morning. Instead of putting on Cartoon Network, ESPN appeared on my television. I wanted to change the channel, but my eyes fixated on a Chicago Cubs highlight. Sammy Sosa, the great Cubs' slugger, hit a massive home run into the bleachers at Wrigley Field.
From that moment on, I was hooked. I wanted to learn everything I could about Baseball and its history. Who were the greatest sluggers of all-time? Who created the game? Why is Randy Johnson a better pitcher than Walter Johnson? My mind, and in reality my heart, became infused with Major League Baseball.
My grandfather was a major influence in my love for the game. I would go visit him every summer at Highland Lakes in Vernon, New Jersey. We spent countless hours watching baseball, talking about greats of the past. We Bonded over Baseball, a bond so strong that it will never be broken. I have one memory in particular that forever changed my life.
The Yankees were at home against the Boston Red Sox for a regular season game in 2004. Michael Kay, Ken Singleton and Bobby Murcer were in the booth on the YES Network. I was on the couch and my grandfather was in his comfy chair. Before the game, he turned to me and asked who was going to win. Being a huge Yankee fan, I simply replied Yankees. I wasn’t in the mood to talk because I wanted to hear Bobby Murcer’s commentary on Manny Ramirez. He knew I was engulfed in the commentary, but he said, "I’m going to hold you to that prediction."
I didn’t think much of it at the time and just continued to watch the television.
My first memory of that game was watching Yankee first baseman Tony Clark smash a home run that day. That stuck out in my mind we were in a debate earlier in the day. He asked me about my thoughts on Tony Clark’s performance at first base. I told him that Clark has great power and a decent glove. He then asked me about my thoughts on Giambi to which I replied, “bench Giambi!” At age 11, I was a kid of few words and my grandpa would always bring me into a new conversation. I was shy growing up and he wanted me to break out of my shell.
After Clark hit a home run, I smiled a huge 11-year old smile and said, “I told you so.” He laughed and said, “yes you did.”
Brad Halsey was pitching for the Yankees that day. He was rookie and my grandpa never had any patience for rookies. He has that old school thinking when it comes to baseball. There would be many occasions where he’d say pitchers in 1950s could easily beat the batters in the modern era of baseball. I laughed when he’d say that and asked him to be patient. The rookie might surprise you. He calmed down and kept watching the game. Halsey ended up going over five innings only giving up a lot runs. It wasn’t a horrible performance, but it was bad enough where my grandfather said to never start him again.
The game went into extra innings. It was getting late and I went to brush my teeth before bed. As I was brushing, all I heard from the living room was gim screaming, “get in here and see this play.” The play he referred to was Derek Jeter diving into the stands on Trot Nixon fly ball. I looked at at him as they showed Jeter on the replay. He had this intense look on his face as if to say he felt the pain that Jeter was feeling. That was true in a sense because my grandfather often lived and died as a Yankee fan.
While it may not seem like much to some, these memories are more precious than any World Series championship. I think people have forgotten that memories are the true gift from Baseball. It's the memories that you create which determine your love for the game. I love the memories I shared with my grandfather and can't wait until April.
Why? Because Baseball is Back. The time for new memories and historic moments are upon us. I can't wait!
What baseball related memories did you have growing up? Share them in the comments section below.
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