Christmas Baseball Stories

Not really a Christmas baseball story but appropriate for the season.

 At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?' The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story: Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning..' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt.. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the Plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team 'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

 

Well, I suppose this qualifies, it is a baseball story that occurred on new years day a few years ago.

So, a few years back ( Son was HS Freshman now he's a senior ) on new years day there wasn't a lot happening and my son hit me up to take him to the local cages. I agreed, grabbed my wallet and we both sort of abruptly just walked out of house. I distinctly remember not bringing my phone. The cages local kids hit at here are attached to a mini-golf / arcade place that is open on new years day.

When we arrived at the cages i bought a bunch of tokens for him and we went to an open machine. There were plenty because it wasn't too busy. Anyways, he's hitting and I'm on the bench watching. Some dude takes a seat on the bench next mine. I look over and dressed in a white track suite circa yo MTV raps is Pete Rose. I'm thinking 'wow' . Son can't see or didn't notice because he was facing the opposite direction hitting balls off the machine. Sure enough after a few swings Pete leans over and say's " That your kid?" I said "yes'. He say's "He's got a nice swing" I say " Thanks" at that point I introduce myself and he shakes my hand. Son finishes and steps out for a breather , see's Pete , and looks at me. Doesn't say anything but his face says: " That's F**cking Pete Rose right there" . Son sits down on the bench next to me. Pete is sitting quietly on the other bench. Finally I tell son, " Go introduce yourself" Reluctantly he nervously stands up leans over to the other bench and introduces himself. Pete instantly starts talking hitting with him. Then he stands up and walks over to cage with him. Son goes inside. Pete follows him inside the cage and walks towards the machine . Maybe slightly to the left of the ball path. He then asks son to hit line drives. And to hit the ball up the middle and both sides of the mock field. He was using his hands like a traffic cop pointing R then L then straight up the middle. He kept saying " Quick hands, Quick hands" "Everything in baseball is QUICK"

This went on for a few rounds of tokens then Pete and son stepped out of the cage. Pete shook sons hand then mine and said he had to go.

I remember afterwards getting in the car and me and the kid are silent. Just awestruck. I later tried to impress upon my son the importance of having a hitting lesson with Baseball's all-time hit leader. It wasn't necessary , He understood.

I certainly do not want to politicize this holiday story by creating any sort of controversy w/ Pete and his ban from MLB. Lot's of opinions on that...and I have mine. But I will say this: Pete Rose still absolutely LOVES the game of baseball. Mistakes ? Sure, I know I've made plenty. But from a baseball standpoint, Pete is something special. Real special.

For me it was 14 years ago. I LOVE baseball. It drives me.

I can't get enough. I follow my sons. I used to coach for about 20 years. I played until I was made to stop then I played a version of it (slow pitch softball) for 25 years, I follow my MLB team, the Reds and live and die buy what they do. I find myself now following players my son, who is in college, played with or for. Last summer, I went to a HS summer tournament because I thought one of our members here son was going to be there playing (turned out he wasn't but I still sat and watched the game). I go to my kids HS games. I follow online those here who I have come to know kids

Bottom line I LOVE baseball.

My beautiful wife of now 29 years knows that. 14 years ago when I was 40 she bought me for Christmas a baseball fantasy camp to my favorite MLB team. Only time I have cried for myself at Christmas.

That week in February I got to be a kid again, I got to talk to and hang out with  idols of mine growing up. I got to live the dream. And on Christmas 14 years ago. My wife and kids gave me that. I will cherish that forever.

For all of you. I have come to know and call my friends. I hope you are blessed this holiday season.

One of the nicest things with my sons youth team is they have adopted a family for Christmas for the last several years. Each year our coach, who works in schools, selects a family. We all shop and then the boys get together to wrap the gifts. We no longer play as a youth team cause the kids are in high school, but we still adopt a family together. 

Last year, one of our player's little brothers was in a class talking about empathy. He talked about this tradition. Another boy, in middle school (seventh grade maybe?) raised his hand and said his family was one we had adopted, and how grateful they all were for our kindness. 

Our kids have learned much more than baseball over the years.  They are good players, yes, but I am so grateful their coaches and organization taught them first of all to be good people.