As I thumbed through the sports pages of the past week yesterday, a name from the past jumped off the page. Bobby Avila. Bobby Avila died last week. The name probably rings few bells to most, but to a little girl many years ago, Bobby Avila gave her a Halloween to remember.
I grew up in suburban Cleveland. I don't recall a single day of my life that baseball did not mesmerize me. In the late 1950's, the Cleveland Indians' roster was filled with the likes of Minnie Minoso, Vic Power, Woodie Held, Russ Nixon, Hoyt Wilhelm, Tito (not Terry!) Francona, Herb Score, and my childhood idol, Rocky Colavito. And second baseman, Bobby Avila. I was in love with them all, even when they broke my heart year after year. They were all bigger than life...but then, my life was so very small at the time---I was seven, or maybe eight.
It was 1957 or 1958...I can't recall which...that I learned one summer day that Bobby Avila had moved in AROUND THE BLOCK!! I could NOT believe it! Every chance I had I'd pedal my bike around the block in hopes of catching a glimpse of one of my heroes...a REAL Major League baseball player...a god! But I never saw him.
Summer came and summer went, as did, once again, the seasonal hopes and dreams of Indians' fans everywhere. As Halloween approached, the World Series and baseball faded from memory in the shadows of late autumn...the season was much shorter then, and to a little girl, even September seemed MONTHS ago.
As I approached the door in my Indian (American, not Cleveland) costume that warm October night, I was no longer certain that he still lived there. Where did Cleveland Indians go when the season was over? What did they do? DING D0NG...TRICK OR TREAT!!
The door opened and so did my eyes...WIDE...mouth agape, I took in the figure standing, smiling, in the doorway---a figure bigger than life and in living color, not black and white like on my TV. I said nothing...a mute little awestruck Indian princess, as I opened my bag to accept the treat.
Bobby Avila gave me much more than candy that Halloween night so many decades ago. He gave me a flashbulb moment that this old child will never forget. And for that I am grateful.
Rest in peace, Bobby Avila.
Happy Halloween to all of you kids.
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